Are the Tories really serious about supporting cycling? | The Guardian

Laura LakerMon 11 May 2020 15.13 BST

Saturday’s announcement of extra funds for walking and cycling was a rare example of political focus on sustainable travel. Could the investment announced by the transport minister, Grant Shapps, help usher in what Boris Johnson pledged a week earlier: a ‘golden age for cycling’?.

The measures announced at the weekend reflect the place cycling and walking have taken in our lives during the coronavirus crisis – and the key role they will play in our medium- and long-term future.

Quieter roads, combined with enforced time at home, have boosted cycling and walking by up to 70% in some places, the government says. More space for those activities matters because for the foreseeable future, public transport will be reduced to just 10% of its capacity and if the remaining trips move to private cars, we’re in for gridlock and air pollution. This is especially bad news with a respiratory virus running amok – several studies have suggested air pollution can worsen the impacts of the virus.

With almost half of commutes less than three miles, cycling and walking can take up a considerable amount of slack. What’s more, many people do not want to go back to their previous car-choked lives.

So, what was announced? There was £2bn for cycling and walking, with £250m fast-tracked for pop-up bike lanes. It’s important to note this money was already announced in February as part of a £5bn buses and cycling fund, and it’s spread over five years, ie £350m a year.

The really good news for active travel is the new statutory guidance that, where public transport use is high, local authorities should reallocate road space for walking and cycling. This is the first time a UK transport secretary has said that.

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