Hartstongue - All Party Parliamentary Group for Cycling & Walking

Vision: More people cycling and walking in the UK, more often.

Mission: To use our role as Parliamentarians to promote all forms of cycling and walking.

Values: As an All-party group of Parliamentarians we will work with representatives of organisations in the private, public, and third sectors that share our vision

Objectives: To review research evidence and current best practice, the extent and success of implementation, and potential developments that encourage cycling, and to develop recommendations resulting in changes to government policy and practice at national and local government level, based on these findings.

https://allpartycycling.org/

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CWIS2 Inquiry Report: Reaching Our Active Travel Potential

This feels an exceptionally exciting and hopeful time for active travel. The UK government has shown unprecedented commitment to growing walking and cycling in England (Gear Change + update): in addition to there being serious money on offer for the first time in living memory, last year’s Local Transport Note on cycle infrastructure design (LTN1/20) has established a clear expectation that facilities must be of a high standard. Meanwhile, preparations continue
for the establishment of Active Travel England and this could change the policy landscape significantly.

It was against this very positive background that we commissioned this inquiry, with a particular focus on the second Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy, which the Government is due to release in the coming months.

Since then, the latest report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) confirms the gravity of the situation and the urgent need for action. It is widely acknowledged that active travel has a huge amount to offer in the
response to climate change, in addition to its massive benefits with respect to public health, air quality and economic vitality too. So our inquiry seems even more timely now than it did when we commissioned it.

The challenge within the world of active travel is significant, too. Many local authorities have had to reduce their capacity over the last ten years and many are struggling to respond to the opportunities that recent funding has offered. Furthermore, projects promoting walking and cycling are not universally popular. So there is much to do. This set of recommendations is a practical and constructive response to the situation and one that we believe will help England to achieve its active-travel potential.

Summary of recommendations

Call it the Active Travel Investment Strategy
Significant further increase in funding for active travel
Five-year settlement for each transport/highway authority
Support for the active-travel industry
Levelling up e-bikes
A fair deal for disabled cyclists
Set national active-travel targets consistent with Net Zero
Transport/highway authorities to negotiate local targets consistent with national targets
Develop national targets for mobility justice in active travel
Active Travel England to establish active-travel quality mark
Active Travel England the funder for inclusive projects, national projects and “what works?” research
Active Travel England to act as trusted mediator
Active Travel Plans to set out detailed, costed five-year programmes
Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans providing a coherent, balanced active-travel network that includes rights of way
Active Travel England to have meaningful influence over development proposals and policies
Central government to support transport/highway authorities in rapidly acquiring skills and capacity
Central government to acquire the skills needed for its changed role
Exacting quality standards for pedestrian environments
New standards for equity and engagement/consultation
A new Highways Act
Use best practice in project development and engagement to win hearts and minds
Intensive support for struggling authorities
Obtain robust numbers to support future target- and budget- setting
Establish monitoring arrangements that will keep progress on track
Seek appraisal methods consistent with growing active travel
Improve understanding of exclusion from active travel