Mayor's cycling and walking commissioner steps down

Adam Tranter (right) said he had been particularly grateful to Andy Street "for his backing and support" since his appointment in 2021

The cycling and walking commissioner for the West Midlands has announced he is stepping down from the role.

Adam Tranter was appointed in 2021 by Andy Street, the former Conservative mayor who was narrowly defeated by Labour's Richard Parker in the mayoral elections on 2 May.

Mr Tranter said the post had been "a tremendous privilege and a real opportunity to help make our streets both safer and better for walking and cycling".

"Following the election, I have made the decision to step aside for the new administration to be able to develop their own active travel plans," Mr Tranter said.

"I’m assured that this agenda is an important one for the new mayor and I will be happy to support wherever I can," he added.

West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) said Mr Tranter had helped deliver a number of projects to improve cycling and walking facilities and brought "road safety to the top of the agenda".

Mr Tranter, who was previously Bicycle Mayor for Coventry, where he is from, said: "The West Midlands is my home region and helping make a change here has been an honour."

Among those he thanked, he said he was grateful to have worked with "the vast number of community groups and supporters" who also wanted more cycling and walking infrastructure.

'Safer routes'

Mr Parker, West Midlands mayor, said Mr Tranter had campaigned to expand the walking and cycling network and had helped "secure over £35m for the region, and to improve road safety".

The mayor added he had also encouraged residents to "travel in ways that are more healthy for them and the environment".

He added that making those routes safer, continued to be a top priority and was delighted that Mr Tranter would "continue to work with us informally over the coming months".

Mr Parker said plans for the cycling and walking commissioner's role would be shared "in due course".

He added he would be meeting with council leaders, the police and crime commissioner and community groups over the coming months to agree a "collaborative approach that will keep active travel and road safety as priorities".