Gateshead Council: Support for Active Travel
Support for Active Travel - E2 and E7
The project has achieved:
- Active Travel Centre - This intervention has seen the introduction of an active travel centre in Birtley Library providing walking, cycling and public transport advice as well as bike rental and repair, led rides and walks and information on walking and cycling routes.
- Career Travel - This intervention has seen public transport passes being distributed to colleagues and to a summer training scheme.
- Business Grants - This intervention has provided small grants to local businesses to implement sustainable transport facilities.
- Small infrastructure projects - This intervention has provided cycle storage to businesses, voluntary groups and charities.
The project plans to deliver in 2025/26:
Active Travel Centre - The continuation of UKPSF funding will see the active travel centre in Birtley Library continuing to provide walking, cycling and public transport advice as well as bike rental and repair, led rides and walks and information on walking and cycling routes until end of March 2026.
Contact:
Danny Harland, Transport Strategy (E7) - 0191 433 5545 / [email protected]
UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF)
Case studies
Gateshead College - The Bike Shed
The Active Travel project, funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and led by Gateshead Council, facilitated a unique opportunity for students at Gateshead College to gain practical skills in cycle mechanics while also learning the importance of sustainable travel.
The funding enabled the College to launch the Bike Shed, a project which combines technical training with outdoor cycling excursions, equipping students not only with bike repair skills but also with a new sense of confidence and independence.
As well as promoting active travel, supporting social mobility, and enhancing resilience and wellbeing the project aims to repair and repurpose unused bikes which can be donated to students or to the wider community. Through hands-on bike repair and guided local cycling trips, the initiative fosters a sense of community, encourages healthy living, and empowers students with the knowledge to navigate their local area with ease.
The programme is showing students that local travel—whether it's to the Metrocentre, across Tyne bike paths, or to other Gateshead College campuses—can be accomplished efficiently and cost-effectively by bike and to understand why choosing to travel by bike is better for the planet. Students are introduced to basic bike mechanics, enabling them to look after their bikes and feel more confident about using them regularly for commuting and leisure.
For some students, the project marks the first time they've learned to ride a bike or maintain one. A particularly inspiring story comes from a young student who moved to the UK from Nigeria just six months ago. Initially unable to ride a bike, he was taught the basics during the project. With the support of his peers and instructors, he is now able to join group bike rides, experiencing firsthand the joy and independence that cycling provides. As a part of the programme, he also helped refurbish a bike that had been donated to the project, which will now be given to him as a personal reward for his perseverance. This individual achievement highlights the programme's role in helping students overcome barriers, both in terms of learning new skills, developing friendships and integrating into their new community. It also underscores the programme commitment to social inclusion and resilience, particularly for students facing challenges such as cultural adaptation and social isolation.
Ultimately, the project's aim is to build long-term interest in active travel, ensuring that more people, students and staff, use bikes as a regular mode of transport. The environmental benefits of cycling, including reduced carbon emissions and lower pollution levels, are integrated into the curriculum, helping students understand how their actions contribute to a healthier planet. Additionally, the programme serves as a stepping stone to future career opportunities in the growing active travel industry.
By gaining knowledge in cycle mechanics and practical experience, students have the potential to pursue careers in bike repair, maintenance, and cycling advocacy. And the opportunity to work in a wide range of industries focused on sustainable transportation, health, and fitness.
Gateshead College's Bike Shed is an Active Travel project which demonstrates how a combination of technical education, active participation, and community-building can lead to meaningful outcomes for students.
As the programme continues to grow, the hope is to see even more students embracing active travel, improving their quality of life, and ultimately contributing to a more sustainable and active community. The success of this initiative lays the groundwork for expanding active travel education across the region, with the long-term goal of increasing engagement in cycling and creating new career opportunities in the sector.
Birtley centre pedals change for local residents
A North East community hub is helping residents swap cars for walking and cycling.
The Birtley Active Travel Centre, based in the same building as the refurbished Birtley Library, on Durham Road, opened in April to promote walking, wheeling and cycling.
North East mayor Kim McGuinness recently visited the centre to see its impact firsthand.
Run by national charity Sustrans and funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, the centre offers activities for all ages, including guided walks, cycling training and maintenance, short-term cycle loans and support for active journeys to work or education.
It also provides volunteering and employment opportunities.
Residents have reported increased independence, confidence and improved health and wellbeing since taking part.
Mayor McGuinness said: "What's happening here in Birtley at the new Active Travel Centre is exactly the kind of transformative change our region needs.
"By building confidence on bikes and on foot, offering vital support into work, and creating a welcoming space for families and wheelchair users, this hub is empowering people of all ages.
"I'm proud to back this project; it's opening doors and that is exactly what transport should do - not just help people get around but help them get on."
Councillor John McElroy, cabinet member for the environment and transport at Gateshead Council, added: "Active travel benefits everyone - both for individuals and for our wider communities, by improving health and wellbeing while reducing congestion and improving air quality in Gateshead.
"We are committed, as a local authority and as a region, to providing safe and appealing transport choices.
"An attractive active travel offer is a vital part of that, and we hope to see the offer of activities and support in both Birtley and Leam Lane continue to grow across Gateshead, making it as easy as possible for anyone to make more journeys actively."
With around 67 per cent of journeys between one and five miles completed by car nationally, the centre's work highlights the potential for reducing congestion and improving air quality while encouraging sustainable, active travel across the community.
Matt Barber, head of growth and partnerships, England at Sustrans, added: "We were delighted to welcome mayor Kim McGuinness to the Birtley Active Travel Centre, and to showcase the impactful work we are delivering to the local community, thanks to the support of Gateshead Council.
"From short term cycle loans, to 'Dr Bike' cycle checks, and cycle confidence sessions, to led walks, and support, advice, and planning for everyday journeys - we are here for everyone; to help make it easier for them to walk, wheel, and cycle."