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The Government is in serious danger of missing its targets to increase levels of cycling and walking in England unless there is an increase in funding, three leading cycling and walking charities said today.
Giving evidence to the House of Commons Transport Committee inquiry into Active Travel, Cycling UK, Sustrans and Living Streets urged the Government to make a significant increase in investment in active travel to address a public health crisis.
The Government’s Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy (CWIS), published in 2016, sets out to double the number of cycling trips by 2025, with similar aims to increase walking, particularly for school journeys.
However, in a safety review document to support the strategy, published last November the Department for Transport admitted its current policy would only see cycling increase by a third over the next six years.
“ We welcome the UK Government’s work on walking and cycling in England to date. The Government now needs to up its game on the low cycling levels and the decreasing numbers of children walking to school. ”
- Rachel White, Senior Policy and Political Advisor, SustransThe Government has set an ambition in the CWIS of getting 55% of primary school children walking to school by 2025. This is an important recognition of the benefits of getting children walking to school. However, last year the figure dropped from 53% to 51%.
The charities recognise Transport Minister Jesse Norman’s push to strengthen the Government’s Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy; but a very significant funding boost is still needed if the Government’s ambition, for walking and cycling to become the normal choices for short journeys, is to be realised.
Only 2% of total transport spending is on cycling and walking. Cycling UK, Living Streets and Sustrans say this should rise to at least 5% by 2020, and 10% by 2024, with a large proportion of this allocated to support local authorities’ plans to increase cycling and walking.
Without this increase in funding and more cross-departmental working, the role of cycling and walking as outlined in the Government’s strategies to address the obesity epidemic and air pollution will be limited.
“ Enabling more people to walk and cycle everyday journeys can hugely improve our health, air quality, traffic congestion and road safety. The government need to invest to make this happen. ”
- Joe Irvin, Chief Executive of Living StreetsRoger Geffen, Cycling UK’s policy director, who gave evidence to the committee said:
‘Cycling is a miracle pill that can cure a lot of the ills this Government is facing with air pollution and the physical health problems associated with inactivity.
'However, by its own admission, the Government is not going to meet its own modest targets to double cycling, which Cycling UK believes is due to inadequate funding. Cycling UK believes Government should rebalance its spending to local solutions to car dependence.
'It’s not the people currently cycling who will benefit from more funding, but rather those who feel forced to drive those short distances to school, work or the shops due to having no suitable alternative.’
Joe Irvin, Chief Executive of Living Streets said:
'Enabling more people to walk and cycle everyday journeys can hugely improve our health, air quality, traffic congestion and road safety. The government need to invest to make this happen.
'In particular, the government needs to encourage and enable more children to walk to school, or it will fail to meet its own target of 55% of primary school children walking to school by 2025.’
Rachel White, Senior Policy and Political Advisor for Sustrans, the walking and cycling charity said:
'We welcome the UK Government’s work on walking and cycling in England to date. The Government now needs to up its game on the low cycling levels and the decreasing numbers of children walking to school.
'Physical inactivity, air pollution, climate change and struggling high streets can all be reduced through the provision of high-quality infrastructure such as a network of protected cycle lanes and pedestrianisation of our shopping centres.
This requires sustained, long-term investment in cycling and walking but we need real cross-departmental leadership and investment now to make the change. Additionally, any increase in funding nationally must be matched with a commitment to delivery at a local level.’
Cycling UK and Living Streets are running a joint campaign, supported by Sustrans, urging the Government to allocate more funding to authorities devising plans to encourage cycling and walking.
For more information contact Anna Galandzij in the Sustrans Press Office on 07910 559739
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In her first official appearance in her new role Scotland’s newly appointed Active Nation Commissioner, Lee Craigie is to meet the people at the frontline of delivering walking and cycling infrastructure at a major event in Dundee.
Raising the Standards Day, Caird Hall, Dundee, 23 January, is an annual knowledge sharing event run by walking and cycling charity, Sustrans, that brings active travel partners together to meet and share best practice project ideas and experiences.
“ I am looking forward to attending this event. I am delighted to have been tasked with the privilege and responsibility of helping more people to realise the benefits of walking and cycling for every day journeys. ”
- Lee Craigie, Scotland's Active Nation CommissionerSpeakers and experts will come together to share knowledge and best practice in delivering well designed, safe and accessible walking and cycling infrastructure. Sustrans sees it as an opportunity to raise ambition and promote innovation in infrastructure through inspirational presentations and workshops that empower partners to deliver big, bold and pioneering projects that will restore the balance of Scotland’s streets. Sustrans manages funds to support walking and cycling infrastructure on behalf of Transport Scotland, the Scottish Government’s Transport Agency.
The charity expects around 200 delegates to attend on the day, from each of the 32 local authorities in Scotland, community groups, NHS, universities and colleges, Scottish Government and other statutory bodies.
Lee Craigie was announced as Active Nation Commissioner for Scotland in December 2018. This new position will see Craigie as an official representative for walking, cycling and physical activity. This will be Craigie’s first opportunity to address, meet and talk to Sustrans and travel partners working towards increasing and making active travel easier across the country.
Other speakers at Raising the Standards Day include world-renowned Danish urban designer Mikael Colville-Andersen, transport engagement consultant, Jon Little and public health and transport expert, Lucy Saunders alongside workshops, panels and exhibitions.
Sustrans Scotland National Director, John Lauder said:
‘Sustrans Scotland warmly welcome Lee Craigie to her role and we are delighted that she has chosen to attend our Raising the Standards Day event as her first official appearance.
'Raising the Standards Day is an opportunity for those at the forefront of delivering infrastructure that makes places better for walking and cycling, to be inspired and to share best practice. It will be a great opportunity to hear from Lee and for her to learn about, and discuss, many of the challenges and opportunities we all face in making Scotland a more active nation.’
Active Nation Commissioner for Scotland Lee Craigie said:
'I am looking forward to attending this event. I am delighted to have been tasked with the privilege and responsibility of helping more people to realise the benefits of walking and cycling for every day journeys. This event is a great opportunity to meet the technical experts and those in charge of delivery and learn about the challenges faced on the ground.’
For more information please contact:Claire Daly, Sustrans Scotland Policy and Communications Manager: T: 0131 346 3010 / M: 0786 8701678
Henry Northmore, Sustrans Scotland Senior Communications and Public Affairs Officer: T: 0131 346 1384 / M: 07824 664445
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