APPGCW report launched on upcoming Cycling & Walking Investment Strategy (CWIS2)
Posted on in Business News , Cycles News , Political News
With the Coronavirus pandemic bringing into sharp focus the importance of mental and physical health, the role that cycling and walking can play in improving these outcomes cannot be underestimated. Building exercise and movement into daily routines through the simple act of riding a bike can dramatically lower the risk of a range of health problems, as well as removing the stresses that so often come with driving or being on crowded public transport.
Seeing more people embrace active travel was a small silver lining, all things considered, but an important one all the same. Especially as we look at how to tackle our inactivity crisis, reduce strain on the NHS and move towards a green recovery. If we're going to meet climate and air quality targets then mass adoption of cycling and walking is imperative.
The recent sixth assessment report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is a stark reminder of the urgency to tackle climate change. The evidence could not be more clear; human action is directly causing a warming of the atmosphere, ocean and land - and the consequences are severe. From wild-fires across Europe to increases in freak weather events around the world, it is abundantly clear that we cannot continue with things as they are.
In light of the report, many people are asking what can be done to heed this report and turn concern into tangible action. In the UK, transport is the single largest emitting sector of greenhouse gas emissions, producing over a quarter of our total emissions in 2019. With 68% of trips in England being taken by car under 5 miles, there is a real opportunity to drastically reduce our emissions from transport by
This inquiry by the the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Cycling and Walking (APPGCW) is a vital piece of work and Brompton are proud to support it. The report focuses on what the Government should consider including in their upcoming second Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy (CWIS) to harness the wider positive work already being done in this area.
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 budgetsetting
- Establish monitoring arrangements that will keep progress on track
- Seek appraisal methods consistent with growing active travel
- Improve understanding of exclusion from active travel