Lords Berkeley and Judd are due to propose an amendment to the Infrastructure Bill which would make the government plan for greater investment into cycling and walking.
The proposed amendments would mean that the Government would be required to publish a binding Cycling & Walking Investment Strategy and answer to Parliament if the ambitions in it were not met.
The strategy would be divided into four parts, setting out:
- a long-term vision to increase walking and cycling rates across the whole population, in rural as well as urban areas
- a ‘Statement of Funds Available’ for the next five years that would be spent specifically on cycling and walking
- a detailed Investment Plan of programmes and schemes, eg to improve cycle-rail integration, retrofit safe walking and cycling paths along busy roads and give provincial towns and cities London-style cycling measures and exemplary public spaces
- a performance specification of measures and targets, eg increases in cycling and walking levels, improvement in safety, and the proportion of schools and stations with safe routes to them.
Six organisations are currently backing the amendments: Campaign to Protect Rural England, British Cycling, Campaign for Better Transport, CTC, Living Streets, and Sustrans.
Martin Key, Campaigns Manager of British Cycling, said:
“Outside London it’s as if the funding tap is going to be turned off for walking and cycling after 2016. This is not just about new safe routes for cycling or more attractive town centres – without guaranteed investment, local roads and pavements could crumble beneath our wheels and our feet.”
