Photo credit: Chris Foster/Walk Wheel Cycle Trust
Our response
Rachel White, Head of Policy and Communications England:
"We welcome the publication of the third cycling and walking investment strategy, which aligns closely with our own aim to make it possible for everyone to walk, wheel and cycle. In particular, the inclusion of an ambitious new travel to school target, that rightly includes secondary school pupils and explicitly recognises cycling. This represents a significant step forward in creating lasting benefits for children and young people.
It’s great to see the commitment to improving the quality and connectedness of local walking, wheeling and cycling routes through the creation of a national active travel network. With the National Cycle Network sitting as the backbone everyone will have a genuine choice in how they travel.
Achieving meaningful change requires long-term certainty and strategic delivery, and we strongly support the sustained investment programmes included in the strategy. Concrete targets for modal shift, underpinned by clear and appropriate performance measures, will give local authorities and devolved regions the determination to make changes that work best for their communities.
This strategy is an important first step in setting the direction of travel for the next four years. By making walking, wheeling and cycling a safe and easy option for more people, especially children, we can improve mental and physical wellbeing, and create more inclusive and accessible communities that reconnect people to each other and the things they need.
We are ready to work with partners to turn this ambition into action, creating an integrated transport network that helps more people travel actively, confidently and sustainably every day.”
