Package of measures presented to Government to support cycling post-lockdown
Posted on in Cycles News
The Bicycle Association of Great Britain (BA) have present
ed a package of measures to the Government to urge decisive action on cycling as lockdown eases.
A bold package of measures has been proposed to senior political figures and officials, as the Government considers a possible easing of lockdown measures.
The Government are being urged to act swiftly to ensure that as many commuters as possible who normally travel by public transport or car, switch to cycling as the best, safest alternative, when they are once again able to travel to work. If instead, ‘normal' car use levels were to be boosted by former public transport users avoiding buses, trains, tubes and trams, there would be high levels of congestion and pollution.
The key element of this package must be Government funding and guidance for pop-up bike lanes and other low-cost ‘instant' infrastructure changes to create safe, protected and extensive networks for people who are doing their bit to keep cities moving by using their bikes to get to work and for other essential journeys.
Many will be first time users of bikes for transport, and a safe, comprehensive network of cycle ways is essential if they are to continue to get around by bike - freeing up road space for emergency services and other absolutely essential motor traffic.
"7 out of every 10 customers at the moment are new or returning cyclists"
Steve Garidis, BA Executive Director, said: "Feedback from the cycle
industry is that 7 out of every 10 customers at the moment are new or
returning cyclists. Their eagerness to get out on two wheels and enjoy
the reliable transport, healthy exercise and low-cost mobility that
cycling offers depends heavily on the roads being, and feeling, safe to
ride. That's why the BA believes it is essential that the Government
steps in to ensure that across the country, urgent measures are taken to
make cycling for transport feel safe, and with enough road space to
ensure social distancing can be properly maintained."
The BA the Association of Cycle Traders (ACT) have been in regular contact since the Covid-19 pandemic and are working together to ensure that when the measures come to fruition they will be implemented as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Package of measures proposed
The key elements of the proposal are:
- That the Government provide funding, guidance and leadership to local authorities so that they can make rapid, wide-scale changes to their local roads to enable people to cycle safely from home to work and to other destinations such as high street shops. This should include extensive networks of ‘pop-up' bike lanes, closing roads to through car traffic, and reallocation of road lanes to create space for cycling. We urge that a network approach be used in planning these interventions, so that whole journeys can be completed safely by bike.
- Provide and promote a zero VAT "holiday" for all bikes, e-bikes, and cycle repairs. This will send an immediate message to consumers that the Government is using all levers available to promote using bikes as we emerge from lockdown.
- As more bikes are being taken out of garden sheds and put to work to keep the country moving, people may find repair bills significant. The BA urges rapid implementation of a £50 per customer voucher scheme for repairs, like the scheme recently introduced in France. Ensuring that cycle servicing is as affordable as possible will help keep those new riders safe.
- Although around 68% of daily trips are under 5 miles and so usually practical by conventional bike, many more (around 83%) are under 10 miles and, for these, e-bikes are perfect. An e-bike may also be helpful for a shorter, hilly journey, or simply to make the ride easier. But e-bike prices are still an obstacle for many people, so the BA proposes a short-term £250 per bike purchase grant to help overcome this. Similar schemes have been very successful internationally.
- Extending the Cycle to Work scheme, through which employees can affordably buy bikes through salary sacrifice, to the self-employed and other groups.
- To boost safety, the Government should fund the provision of adult "refresher" cycle training across the country - both to promote good riding and to boost the confidence of people who may not be used to riding in cities.
- There have been many recent reports of cycle thefts from outside hospitals, depriving NHS workers of their transport home after long shifts on the front line. To address this, and to prevent the same situation for other employees who are helping to ease gridlock concerns by cycling to work, funding and planning easements should be put in place immediately to assist employers to provide secure cycle parking for their workers.
Interest in cycling and walking as ready solutions to the restricted availability of public transport, and limited road space, has never been greater. There is a brief window of opportunity to make the changes necessary to allow cycling to play a very significant role in keeping our cities moving.
Both the BA and the ACT will be working together to assist in Government cycling schemes where possible and to implement any of the suggested measures that come to fruition.
The 'French' option
The ACT are hoping the ‘French' option will be one of the methods adopted. It's the most immediate, transparent & rewarding item we can easily achieve - a digitalised retail voucher - and the ACT already have the perfect delivery solution ready to launch soon.
More to follow.