Wigan Council is passionate about Active Travel and creating a borough where walking, wheeling and cycling is the preferred choice when it comes to making short journeys.
Active Travel is not only good for the environment and reducing traffic on the borough’s roads, but it brings with it a wide range of physical and mental health benefits including reduced chance of long-term illness, increased energy levels and regular access to fresh air.
Wigan Council are working closely with Transport for Greater Manchester and Mayor Andy Burnham to deliver the UK’s largest cycling and walking network. We’re connecting communities in Wigan, making it easy, safe, and attractive for people to travel on foot or by bike fort everyday trips.
Whether you are a business, school, individual or family looking to walk, wheel or cycle more, we have an offer that will suit you:
Active Outdoors walks and cycle rides
Our Active Outdoors team is here to get you moving with over 150 walking, running and cycling sessions every month.
Leigh Bike Library
Our bike library allows you to loan bikes, helmets, locks and other cycling equipment absolutely FREE of charge.
Gearing Up Cycle Workshop
Our partners at Gearing Up Cycle Workshop (external link) are responsible for providing the following services:
- Recycle unloved & unwanted bikes
- Support and train people into employment, learning new practical skills
- Sell low cost / affordable bikes – promoting healthy lifestyles, travel to work and reduction in congestion
- Free Dr Bike sessions
Cycle Three Sisters
Our fun, family friendly cycle event is held twice per year and provides a wide range of cycle opportunities for people of all ages to cycle in a safe, traffic free environment.
Walking and Cycling Forum
The Wigan Borough Walking and Cycling Forum has been created to provide a platform for communication and collaboration between the public, voluntary and community organisations, businesses and charities and Wigan Council to work in partnership to support and develop opportunities for increased participation in Walking and Cycling within Wigan.
The forum is used as a platform to provide and discuss topics such as Bee Network/MCF Active Travel Schemes, Active Neighbourhoods, MCF Activation, Walking and Cycling sessions/events and other related topics. The Forum meets quarterly. For further information and to join the forum email distribution list please contact the team on majorprojects@wigan.gov.uk.
Meet the Activation Team
Our activation team consists of a Manager and two Activators who deliver a wide range of schemes and initiatives across multiple settings.
We work with partners including Gearing Up, The Ramblers, British Cycling, GM Moving, Cycling UK and many more to deliver services. Contact richard.smith1@wigan.gov.uk if you are a business, organisation, school or individual who would like to find out how you could walk or cycle more.
Our Partners
Our partners at Transport for Greater Manchester also have a fantastic Active Travel offer providing a wide range of training, mapping tools, initiatives and links on their BeeActive website (external link).