Somerset Rural Active Travel Toolkit
Helping rural communities in Somerset create safer, greener ways to walk, wheel, cycle and ride.
About the toolkit
We have created the Rural Active Travel Toolkit to support rural communities to improve everyday routes for walking, wheeling and horse riding. In rural areas, small, well-planned changes can make a big difference – helping people feel safer making short trips, improving access for those who use mobility aids, and strengthening local connections.
Rural active travel infrastructure is limited throughout the UK, and delivering new routes and schemes can be complex and daunting. However, there are a number of schemes both inside and out of Somerset which have been delivered by local communities. This toolkit is designed to guide community groups, parish and town councils, landowners and residents through the key steps involved in developing local active travel schemes.
The toolkit works as a clear roadmap, taking you through each stage of an active travel project and highlighting important considerations along the way.
It provides practical guidance on how to:
- Get started and shape an idea
- Engage your community and build evidence
- Understand costs and secure funding
- Design and plan routes
- Gain the necessary
- Deliver and maintain your scheme
You can explore an overview of the toolkit below or download the full version for detailed guidance.
Engaging local people and building evidence
Before planning any scheme, it is important to understand local needs and priorities. The strongest projects are shaped by local voices and supported by clear evidence. This section of the toolkit explains how to engage with residents, gather insight, and build early support for your idea.
Funding your project
Some active travel schemes can be delivered at relatively low cost, but most projects will require some funding.
This section explores different funding options, including applying for grants, community fundraising, sponsorship from local businesses and working with parish councils. It also helps you understand the types of costs that can arise at different stages of delivery.
Design and route planning
Careful planning is important if you want to turn an idea into a successful project.
If your scheme includes new or improved paths, crossings, dropped kerbs, or other changes to land, you will need to think about land ownership, the type of route, accessibility requirements and how the project will be delivered.
Getting consent
Depending on where your scheme is, it is likely that you will require consent from one or more organisations.
This section sets out who you may need approval from and how to approach this process in a clear and proportionate way, helping you plan ahead and reduce the risk of delays.
Delivery
Once your scheme is designed and permissions are in place, this section explains how to move into deliver. It covers appointing contractors where needed, managing risk, using volunteers effectively and thinking ahead to maintenance.
It also highlights the importance of promoting your new route, gathering feedback and reviewing what you’ve learned before starting a new project.
Training
As part of the toolkit, we are offering bespoke training sessions that will cover each of the five sections contained within the toolkit.
To find out more about the sessions, please get in touch. Email: transportpolicy@somerset.gov.uk.
How we can help
We provide advice and signposting for community-led rural active travel schemes. While we do not manage or deliver third-party projects, we can offer guidance and support where appropriate. It is particularly important to contact us early if your proposal affect the public highway or public rights of way. Early engagement helps ensure you are following the correct standards and processes and can avoid delays later on.
Email us for advice and support