Reasons To Be Cheerful: Active Travel Funding Is Coming!

Yes, we like mountain biking, but more people on all kinds of bikes is good for the bike industry and for mountain biking. The Guardian is reporting that the government will be investing ‘unprecedented levels of funding’ in cycling and walking. Transport Secretary Louise Haigh has outlined a variety of measures that should see active travel given the status it deserves.

Shortly after her appointment as Transport Secretary, Louise Haigh posted on social media that she was reading ‘Potholes and Pavements’, an excellent book by Laura Laker that outlines the systemic and policy failings that lead to our disjointed National Cycle Network. Perhaps this book has influenced the Transport Secretary, as it appears that much of what Laker outlines in her book could be addressed – in particular, long term funding that allows proper strategic planning, rather than flurries of activity around spurious funding pots.

Cycling UK is certainly happy with the news:

Responding to Transport Secretary Louise Haigh’s commitment that the government will invest “unprecedented levels of funding” in cycling and walking as a critical part of plans to improve health and inequality, Sarah McMonagle, director of external affairs at Cycling UK, said: 

“We are thrilled that the Transport Secretary has made a firm commitment to ‘unprecedented levels of funding’. By embracing a shift towards active travel, the government has begun to lay the foundations for a future where everyone has access to clean air, safer streets, and a more sustainable way of getting around.

“For decades, Cycling UK has stressed the potential for cycling to not only improve public health, but address the climate crisis head-on, boost the economy, and help to ease the cost-of-living crisis for everyone. Research by the IPPR, supported by Cycling UK, revealed that at least 10 percent of the total transport budget should be dedicated to active travel within five years to ensure that these benefits are realised.

“We know from working with communities that public support is strong, and we have a clear roadmap to create happier, healthier, greener lives through cycling. We hope to see the government translate these positive words into firm spending commitments for active travel in the forthcoming Autumn Budget.”

This would certainly be a huge change from the previous administration, where we reported on huge cuts to active travel funding (followed swiftly by the retention of a £4.8 billion fuel price discount).

We can only hope that the reports in the Guardian make it through to the Autumn Budget… hopefully some media coverage and positive responses will help drown out the car lobby’s whataboutery and make sure we see the changes outlined being delivered.

Our own local councillor (and mountain biker!), Scott Patient, has also welcomed the news:

Fantastic news, we need more, more, more! Cycling is a liberator and gives freedom.

Although greenways and the Sustrans route are crying out for investment and expansion, it’s so important that our roads and main highways have cycle infrastructure fit for purpose so that leisure and utility cycling have parity.

A return to evidenced based policy making – at last! Labour investment in cycling and walking will be unprecedented, says Louise Haigh

We want the number 1 choice for those who can to be walking or wheeling. Great to see this after the Tories cut the Active Travel budget by half.

Of course, funding is only part of the battle. Public opposition to cycling and cycle lanes also gets in the way – because… well, it’s difficult to see why you wouldn’t want your kids to be able to cycle safely to the park. But badly done cycle infrastructure has certainly contributed to ideas that it’s a waste of money, or it takes space off the road, or that nobody uses them anyway. Winning people over (or perhaps going ahead regardless, doing it well, and proving that ‘build it and they will come’) is the next part of the battle for anyone that’s actually got some funding.

Hopefully we’ll see the government prioritising active travel, and some of the battles the likes of Scott and other campaigners face falling away. If you do have someone locally that’s trying to do something good, show them your support – even if it’s just to wade into the Local Facebook Page Of Disdain and say ‘Actually, I like this idea, I’d love to ride my bike there’. Every positive voice counts. Fingers and toes crossed for the autumn budget…

Hannah Dobson

Managing Editor

I came to Singletrack having decided there must be more to life than meetings. I like all bikes, but especially unusual ones. More than bikes, I like what bikes do. I think that they link people and places; that cycling creates a connection between us and our environment; bikes create communities; deliver freedom; bring joy; and improve fitness. They're environmentally friendly and create friendly environments. I try to write about all these things in the hope that others might discover the joy of bikes too.

More posts from Hannah