Transport

In our survey, 42% of people chose transport as one of the top issues needing improvement in Milton Keynes. [1]

The three transport options people would most like to see in the next 5–10 years are: [2]

• Better public transport services 61%
• More affordable public transport links locally and within
  the region 56%
• Improvements to the Redway network’s safety 47%

The OU Hidden Toil report highlights the high cost of not having a car in the city.

“There was unanimous agreement among residents that Milton Keynes is a very difficult city to get around without a car. For residents who don’t have or don’t drive a car, limited public transport options, in conjunction with a lack of affordable shops and activities nearby and the costs of alternative private transport, represent a major concern. This creates enormous financial pressure for those already on the tightest budgets.” [3]

For some families, these pressure are extreme:

One resident in Glebe Farm spends up to £800 a month on taxis in winter to get her children, who have special educational needs, to their school. The school is three miles away and too dangerous to cover on foot. [4]

Taxi reliance compounds existing inequality:

• 26% of people living in the most deprived areas of MK (bottom two IMD quintiles) use taxis as their main mode of transport. [5]
  
  
• 11% of people in the most affluent areas of MK (top two quintiles) use taxis.

A lack of access to nearby shops forces residents to choose between small, expensive shops and paying for taxis to reach affordable supermarkets.

Residents also describe barriers such as unreliable buses, flooded underpasses, and newer Redways (over 200 miles of shared-use paths for cyclists and pedestrians) running too close to major roads, increasing safety concerns. 

Yet there is momentum around the city’s plans for new public transport infrastructure. A new Mass Rapid Transport System (MRT) would create a tram-style route connecting Bradwell and other parts of the city, as discussed in Local Transport Plan 5 (LTP 5: June 2025). It is part of the government’s New Towns Taskforce, for which MK has been selected as one of the 12 potential locations

LTP5 focuses on five key policy areas: Roads, Traffic and Parking; Travelling Safety; Improving Public Transport; Enabling and Encouraging Active Travel; and Future Transport. [6]

Our Survey Findings

Which are your main modes of transport? [7]

Private Cars - 63%

Walking - 50%

Public Transport - 44%

Taxi - 17%

Cycling - 13%

Car Share/ Hire Car - 8%

Motorbike/Moped - 3%

Cycle safety features strongly, with an emphasis on cycle training for schoolchildren — such as the Bikeability Olympics — as well as wider safety initiatives and guidance. The plan also highlights that many of Milton Keynes’ Redways are ‘remote from houses with no oversight’, so they often feel quite isolated.

Users can feel exposed, which becomes a barrier for those concerned about their personal safety, particularly women. Work is underway to improve lighting, clear foliage, and make these routes feel more secure.

Only 23% of cyclists in MK are women. [8] Yet 80% of non-cyclists say they would like to cycle. [9]

There have also been some exciting innovations, such as the pilot programme of driverless buses in the city centre, which started in December 2024 and was extended in summer 2025. [10]

Meanwhile, work continues on plans for the East West Rail (EWR) line, with the Bletchley–Bedford section identified for accelerated development. The proposed Universal Studios UK theme park makes the work more urgent.

In an internal survey for EWR conducted in 2023, residents of Milton Keynes shared their hopes for the benefits of the new line:

• 91% - ease of accessing the UK
• 88% - getting around locally
• 86% - more job opportunities [11]

Vital Thinking

How do we address the issues of lack of affordable transport options for those living in new build estates/most deprived families, and how do we make women feel more confident to cycle in the city?

Gender Pedal Group Taskforce

The Gender Pedal Group Taskforce, a sub-group of Cycling Citizens MK, was established to increase the number of women cycling regularly in Milton Keynes. Its core aim is to help achieve gender equality in everyday cycling across the city.

This work supports Cycling Citizens MK’s wider ambition for 7% of all journeys in Milton Keynes to be made by bike by 2030. To achieve this, the group recognises the importance of increasing the number of women cycling.

Now in its first year, the Taskforce runs several initiatives, including guided rides for women during the summer months around the redways of MK. It is also developing a “Saddle Library”, which will allow women to borrow and test different saddles before deciding which to purchase.

In addition, the Taskforce connects women with other cycling organisations in the city, such as Cycle Saviours, which offer refurbished bikes for £80 – £100.

Co-Chair Jane Whild explains that the Taskforce was formed after recognising a significant gender gap among cyclists in the city, with roughly two male cyclists for every woman. She notes that a range of factors contribute to this disparity, including childcare responsibilities, limited access to workplace changing facilities, and concerns about personal safety — especially when travelling at night.

The council’s transport team, Get Around MK, also plays an active role in the Taskforce. They provide monthly Bikeability training sessions for women at Two Mile Ash School. This programme has proven popular with women from diverse backgrounds and ethnicities.