Government to spend almost £300m on cycling schemes through new funding package
Posted on in Business News , Cycles News
A £291m funding package from Active Travel England is set to be used for cycle lanes and improved junctions, while also supporting local businesses and making it easier to cycle to work, the UK Government has announced.
The new funding will also help provide bike training for hundreds of thousands of children, as well as walking and wheeling routes across the UK.
The investment will deliver around 300 miles of new cycle lanes and walking routes, with the improved ability to cycle and walk to work expected to boost the economy by £9 million per year.
National Active Travel Commissioner Chris Boardman said: "Making it simple and safe to walk, wheel or cycle to schools, shops and workplaces is one of the most effective actions we can take to improve the nation’s health, economy and get to net zero, all in one.
“Free exercise, zero emissions and no risk of getting stuck in traffic are benefits already being enjoyed as standard by our European neighbours and it’s time we had the same life-improving choices.
“This funding will help make our towns, cities and villages happier, healthier and greener places to live."
The funding package includes £222.5 million for local authorities to develop and deliver local walking, wheeling and cycling schemes, £30 million for Bikeability cycle training for children and £30 million to the Sustrans charity for improvements to the National Cycle Network. An additional £8.5 million has been allocated to organisations including Cycling UK, Living Streets, and Modeshift to support walking and cycling initiatives in schools and communities.
Jonathan Harrison, Director of the ACT, said: "It’s positive to see a raft of investment promises and good to see cycling getting some support from the Government. Hopefully, the industry as a whole will feel the benefit of this, particularly local, independent bike shops that can support an increased appetite for cycling in their communities.
“Time will tell if this funding comes to fruition, as we’ve seen schemes announced before that haven’t materialised in the way they were planned. However, we hope this is a sign of a real commitment to supporting cycling and the wider bike industry across the UK."
Mark Sutton, Managing Director at Cycling Electric, reports that the package includes £100 million already pledged in the autumn budget and covers the financial years 2024/25 and 2025/26.
Mr Sutton said: "All in all, the claim at the head of the PR that 300 miles of cycling and walking infrastructure does not seem to add up based on my rough costings. I have the budget delivering at the very most optimistic scenario 96 miles of cycling infrastructure to the standards we expect, which is only a few hundred metres of track per local authority, one way, if well built.
“In the context of the roads budget and government pledges to eat into transport emissions (which account for 26% of all UK emissions), the spend is microscopic. But then again, it’s not a cut either, and we had gotten very used to those under the prior administration. Every cloud has a silver lining."
The Government insists the funding will contribute to its Plan for Change by improving connectivity, supporting local businesses, and reducing pressure on the NHS through the health benefits of active travel. With a target of 30 million additional walking and cycling journeys per year, officials say the package represents a step towards a more sustainable and active transport network across the country.
Xavier Brice, CEO at Sustrans, said: “As the charity that looks after the National Cycle Network, this funding is a fantastic boost to our work to make the 13,000 miles of routes safer and more accessible for local journeys, whether by foot, cycle, wheelchair or mobility scooter.
“We can now step-up our work with local communities, many partners and governments across the UK, to make it easier for everyone to walk, wheel or cycle for more journeys, growing local economies, providing easy and healthy access to nature and helping people live well for longer.”