Leeds Anchor Network has launched a new active travel map on Clean Air Day (18 June) to encourage bike travel and wellbeing across the city and up to Otley.
The Leeds Anchor Network (LAN) Active Travel Hub map details active travel hubs where people can use the mapped facilities to access bikes, active travel advice, or support for their journeys.
LAN brings together 14 of the city's largest employers across local government, health, culture, education and utilities. Together the network comes together to focus on areas they can make a difference for the people of Leeds.
Leeds is nurturing a cycle friendly city, with ongoing improvements that make it easier for residents to choose cycling for local journeys.
These improvements support the University’s and LAN commitments of working collaboratively to reduce emissions and build a greener, more accessible Leeds.
Some of the active travel hubs enable users to hire a bike, get maintenance help from qualified mechanics, borrow tools and get bike and cycling advice. Active travel is not limited to cycling; it can include any activity that helps people stay physically active and these hubs are designed to support individuals to achieve this.
Thom Cooper, Head of Sustainability at the University of Leeds and LAN Climate Group Chair, said: “Walking, wheeling, and cycling are the most sustainable modes of travel. We hope that this map encourages more people to use our fantastic travel hubs in the city region to travel more sustainably and support their wellbeing through an active lifestyle.
“Transport is one of the biggest contributors to carbon emissions and poor air quality, whilst active travel gives people a simple, low carbon way to get around. These improvements support the University’s and LAN commitments of working collaboratively to reduce emissions and build a greener, more accessible Leeds.”
This work supports Leeds City Council’s transport strategy, which aims to create healthier neighbourhoods, reduce congestion, and give people more affordable, sustainable ways to travel. The transport strategy includes the Vision Zero pledge, supported by LAN and signed by the University of Leeds, to cut traffic risk so that no one is killed or seriously injured using the roads.
Professor Peter Slee, Vice Chancellor of Leeds Beckett University and LAN Chair, said: “The Leeds Anchor Network exists to drive positive change for our communities across the city by working as one. Road safety isn't just an infrastructure issue; it’s a public health and quality-of-life priority that impacts every single person living and working in Leeds.
"By aligning our organisations with these initiatives, we are making a clear, collective statement. Whether it is through updating our staff travel policies, reviewing our supply chain logistics, or promoting safer commuting habits, the city’s major employers are fully committed to creating a safer, healthier environment for everyone."
Further information
Photo caption (left to right): Mariana Pexton, Deputy Chief Executive, Leeds City Council; Gary Bartlett, Chief Officer for Highways and Transportation, Leeds City Council; Eileen Brown, Customer Experience Director, Northern Gas Networks; Councillor Peter Carlill, Executive Member for Transport and Planning, Leeds City Council; Jenny Wilkinson, Stakeholder Engagement and Research Lead, Northern Gas Networks; Charles Egbu, Vice Chancellor, Leeds Trinity University; Thom Cooper, Head of Sustainability, University of Leeds; Fiona Bolam, Chief Officer for Economy and Skills, Leeds City Council.
To send any updates for inclusion on the LAN Active Travel map, please send feedback via sustainability@leeds.ac.uk, which will be reviewed for inclusion by the University of Leeds sustainability team.
For enquiries, please contact Rebecca Hurrey at pressoffice@leeds.ac.uk in the University of Leeds press office.
Leeds Anchor Network is made up of the following 14 institutions:
• British Library
• Department of Health & Social Care
• University of Leeds
• Leeds Beckett University
• Leeds City College
• Leeds City Council
• Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust
• Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
• Leeds Trinity University
• Leeds & York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
• NHS England
• Northern Gas Networks
• Northern Powergrid
• Royal Armouries