FEATURE
cycle more and to drive less for short journeys,” said Brice. “This will be crucial for reaching net-zero, tackling physical inactivity, reducing air pollution and creating more liveable towns and cities. “The UK Government’s Net Zero Strategy reiterated the target for half of all journeys in towns and cities to be cycled or walked by 2030,” Brice continued. “This is a very ambitious target that highlights the need for long-term, reliable investment in active travel, and also public transport. “However, whilst the £2 billion of funding is a great starting point for building up walking and cycling, the UK Government’s existing targets for 2025, which include doubling cycling, are unlikely to be met, and so we look forward to the Government setting out how they will meet the 2030 target in the forthcoming second Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy. The £5.7 billion sustainable transport funding for England’s city regions to help level-up transport is also welcome. “As the Chancellor committed to continue to freeze fuel
duty, it is worth acknowledging that there could be a lot more funding to invest in public transport, walking and cycling had fuel duty not been frozen for the last 10 years. “This will cost the Treasury £8 billion alone over the next five years which could be invested in sustainable travel elsewhere. And it continues to make driving a more attractive option for longer journeys. Given that the cost of driving will become even cheaper as more vehicles are exempt from vehicle excise duty, it’s time for the Treasury to start thinking about a fairer, equitable approach for vehicle charging.”
‘Blind optimism’ Nic Dejuniac, UK general manager of Zoomo, said the budget announcement was “truly underwhelming” and “frankly, disappointing”.
“Rishi Sunak used [the] announcement, what he called
embracing the ‘age of optimism,’ to dither and pontificate about creating a ‘new economy post-Covid’. However, it seems that this is blind optimism that neglects the ongoing climate crisis. We need to do more, and we need to do it fast. Sunak announced that £6.9 billion would be spent on transport schemes across the UK, although just £1.5 billion of this investment is new money. “Shockingly, he announced a reduction in the cost of domestic air travel through a cutting of Air Passenger Duty ahead of COP26 and freezing of fuel duty, meaning that the average tank of fuel will cost around £15 less per car. He is outright enabling citizens to be more reliant on fossil fuels and climate hazardous transport solutions – rather than focusing on becoming less reliant on these harmful pollutants. It seems that Sunak forgot not only to get on his bike this morning, but he is also encouraging others not to get on theirs.”
20 | December 2021
www.bikebiz.com
Further, Dejuniac continued, there was ‘no sign’ of financial levers to reduce fossil fuel dependence, contrary to what has been occurring in cities like Paris. “We were looking forward to announcements of investment
into cycling infrastructure, subsidies for individuals and businesses to own and use e-bikes, and financial mechanisms to dissuade the use and purchase of fossil fuel-guzzling cars and vans,” said Dejuniac. “None of these measures were announced [in the budget]. “We find this uninspiring against the backdrop of global
moves towards cycle-friendly and green policies. In fact, just recently, the city of Paris announced a €250 million investment into 180km of bike lanes and three times the number of bike parking spots across the city. This is how to adopt and implement sustainable and micromobility friendly models for the city of the future. “It is a real shame that the Chancellor’s new budget did not
follow the innovative examples of our European neighbours. It’s apparent that large cities want, and frankly need, to move in this direction, but they require government support to make the leap. “Overall, we feel that the Chancellor’s budget was not bold
enough and risks leaving Britain behind in the movement towards making cities more sustainable. “There is so much we can and should be doing, and it is disconcerting to see a lack of interest, investment or decisive action in this area.”
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