OPINION
PHOTO BY TONY PAMAR ON UNSPLASH With so much going on in the world of cycling, we
have a real chance to influence what happens next in England (transport is devolved to the national assemblies in Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland). If you’re passionate about cycling and making it more of an everyday activity, you can write to your local MP or the Local Transport Minister, Simon Lightwood, to ask them to prioritise cycling when they consider the future strategy, policy and investment in transport. Here’s what we’ve been saying to the government: If the UK government is to achieve its own stated objective to increase cycling levels, it must invest more in enabling people to cycle. That means steadily increasing funding for active travel to reach 10% of the transport budget spent on active travel, approximately £50 per head, by the end of the parliament. Funding levels have long been inadequate, and as a result, cycling levels in most of the UK remain extremely low compared to similar countries. Investing in cycling offers excellent value for money. For every £1 invested in cycling infrastructure, the
36 | May 2025
government receives £5.62 worth of wider economic benefits – more than double the return on investment for new road building. Cycling is also a very cost-effective Net Zero enabler, offering an almost completely carbon-free
CYCLING IS ALSO A VERY COST-EFFECTIVE NET ZERO ENABLER, OFFERING AN ALMOST COMPLETELY CARBON-FREE ALTERNATIVE TO DRIVING, WHICH IS THE MAIN SOURCE OF TRANSPORT GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS.
alternative to driving, which is the main source of transport greenhouse gas emissions. Examples like London show that investment in quality cycling infrastructure and community programmes lead to higher cycling levels, bringing with them economic, environmental and health benefits. London’s example also demonstrates that funding for active travel can be repurposed from major new road projects and raised through road user charging schemes. The decisions taken by the UK government this summer will affect our streets, our communities, and our economy for years to come, but with your support and voice, we can build the
case for a better future by bike. Get involved and make your voice heard by visiting www.
cyclinguk.org/contact-MP
www.bikebiz.com
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