Sustrans calls for investment in cycling and walking in General Election 2019 manifesto

This upcoming general election is being viewed by many cycling charities and lobbying groups as an opportunity for political parties to support action that will lower carbon emissions by making it easier for everyone to walk and cycle.

Based on the Sustrans belief that climate change is the biggest long-term threat facing the UK, they have created 5 main asks for the next government to commit to and help more people reduce their over-reliance on the car and instead walk or cycle for everyday journeys.

These 5 main asks are:

Ask 1
Provide sustained long-term investment in walking and cycling, to support an updated Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy, and the National Cycle Network.

Ask 2
Commit to a 20-minute neighbourhood planning principle for all cities and towns. This is designed so all people living in cities and towns are within a 20-minute walk from their everyday services and needs.

Ask 3
Transform the journey to school to help children travel safely and independently by foot, scooter or cycle.

Ask 4
Ensure places are accessible for everyone.

Ask 5
Establish a UK-wide Greenways Taskforce and Greenways Citizen's Assembly so that communities can develop a vision for, and put in place a Greenways Programme.  

These asks are put forward to help create the Sustrans vision whereby UK infrastructure should not only accommodate walking and cycling, but also make it the most obvious, easiest, and cheapest choice. Public transport should also be easily accessible, cheap and frequent meaning that cars would only be necessary for rare longer journeys.

By making this investment society would stand to benefit from increased access to job opportunities, more exercise being built into our daily lives and helping us to address the climate crisis and air pollution by reducing car use.

The full manifesto consists of 15 asks that are explained in full on the Sustrans website.