Federal Budget delivers long-term active travel funding commitment
The Australian Government’s recent Federal Budget included a significant announcement for active travel in Australia, with a $500 million extension of the Active Transport Fund over the next 10 years.
The commitment represents one of the most substantial long-term Federal investments in active travel infrastructure Australia has seen. The announcement follows sustained advocacy from cycling and active travel organisations across the country, including a national campaign led by We Ride Australia in late 2025. The campaign was supported by Pedal Power ACT, which approached Territory and Federal representatives for the ACT seeking letters of support to Minister Catherine King highlighting the importance of ongoing investment in active travel.
The funding is intended to support safer and more connected walking and cycling infrastructure, helping local and state governments deliver projects that make it easier for people to ride to school, commute to work, access local shops and services, and move around their communities safely and comfortably.
As the ACT’s advocacy organisation for safer cycling infrastructure, Pedal Power believes the announcement is both encouraging and overdue.
Importantly, this is not simply a one-off grant program. A decade-long commitment sends a signal that active travel is beginning to be recognised as a legitimate part of Australia’s transport system and deserving of ongoing Federal investment.
At the same time, Pedal Power recognises that the scale of funding still falls well short of what would be required to genuinely transform active travel opportunities across Australia.
Over the same 10-year period, more than $120 billion has been earmarked for the national transport infrastructure pipeline. Against that figure, the Active Transport Fund still represents only a very small proportion of overall transport spending.
Seen in that context, the announcement is not yet a sign that active travel has become a central priority within transport investment nationally.
However, Pedal Power also acknowledges that this funding represents a substantial increase on previous Federal commitments and creates an important platform for future advocacy.
The commitment provides a level of certainty that has rarely existed before in active travel funding and gives the ACT Government an opportunity to strengthen active travel strategies, identify priority projects, and be ready to apply for future funding rounds.
Across Canberra, demand for safer and more connected cycling infrastructure continues to grow. More people are choosing to ride for transport, recreation and daily life, but many still do not feel safe enough to ride on parts of the network that remain disconnected or incomplete.
Investment in active travel infrastructure delivers benefits far beyond cycling alone. Safer walking and riding connections support healthier communities, reduce congestion, improve access to local destinations, lower transport costs, improve environmental outcomes, and provide more genuine transport choice for people of all ages and abilities.
Active travel also delivers long-term public health benefits by supporting physical activity, improving mental wellbeing, reducing social isolation, and helping lower future health costs associated with inactivity and chronic disease.
This budget announcement may not be the final destination, but it is a meaningful step forward and an important sign that coordinated advocacy can deliver results.
The next challenge will be ensuring this funding translates into high-quality, connected infrastructure that helps more Canberrans feel safe and confident choosing active travel as part of everyday life.
