St Helens Borough Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP)
Why have we developed an LCWIP?
![Wheelchair user on a path in a park](https://sthelens.gov.uk/image/4731/Wheelchair-user/gi-responsive__100.jpg?m=1664203290583)
We want walking, wheeling, and cycling to be the first choice for short everyday trips and as part of longer-distance journeys using public transport - but for this, people need suitable and safe routes to use. Across the borough, we want to improve our roads, footways, and cycleways so that people of all ages and abilities can walk and cycle from where they live to where they want to go. By improving access to key destinations within the borough, we aim to support equal mobility for all and to enable growth for local businesses.
All this is brought together in our objectives, which have focused our decisions at every stage of our LCWIP:
Healthy people | Inclusive community | Supporting a stronger economy | Supporting net zero |
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Walking and cycling for transport is an easy way to build exercise into daily life. Research has shown that regular moderate exercise can improve both physical and mental wellbeing. | Walking is the most affordable mode of transport and cycling costs are relatively low compared to other transport modes. As such, these modes are affordable to most, if not all, income groups. | Making the walking envionment more pleasant around areas has been shown to have a beneficial economic effect on local businesses. | Enabling modal shift from cars to active modes is essential to help achieve a net-zero carbon borough by 2040. |
Photo credit: Chris Foster/Sustrans. Photos are taken from the Liverpool City Region Walking and Cycling Index 2021, published by Sustrans in partnership with Liverpool City Region