UK Cycling

Little Progress on Active Travel Targets, says Public Accounts Committee

7th November 2023

DfT active travel goals
DfT active travel goals

The government has made little progress on its active travel targets and is likely to miss its 2025 goals, according to a new report by the Public Accounts Committee.

What does the committee think of the impact of Active Travel England, and how can active travel get back on track?

Read about Little Progress on Active Travel Targets, says Public Accounts Committee.

Invest in Public Transport and Active Travel, says National Infrastructure Commission

18th October 2023

Silvertown E16 cycle track
Silvertown E16 cycle track, by Sludgegulper, CC BY-SA 2.0

The government should invest more in public transport and active travel, and take measures to deter car use, says the National Infrastructure Commission.

Where should the investment be targeted?

Read about the Invest in Public Transport and Active Travel, says National Infrastructure Commission.

Impacts of LTNs in London

12th October 2023

Impacts of LTNs in London
Impacts of LTNs in London

TfL has produced a summary of the impacts of LTNs in London, based on two types of study.

What are the study types, what does the evidence say about LTNs, and will Mayor Sadiq Khan continue to back boroughs that install them?

Read about the Impacts of LTNs in London.

All Party Cycling Road Justice Report

9th October 2023

APPGCW Road Justice Report
APPGCW Road Justice report

The All Party Cycling Group has published a new Road Justice report which provides reassurance that some MPs understand active travel.

What are the report's recommendations?

Find out in All Party Cycling Road Justice Report.

Laughable Tory "Plan for Drivers"

3rd October 2023

Angry driver
Angry driver

The Tories have come up with a laughable "plan for drivers", full of gaslighting and Doublespeak.

As well as the posturing and propaganda, they are intent on doing some significant damage to transport in England.

Read about Laughable Tory "Plan for Drivers".

Irresponsible Sunak Wants More Dangerous Streets

2nd October 2023

20mph zone
20mph zone, by Jaggery, Licence CC BY-SA 2.0

Irresponsible Prime Minister Sunak wants English streets to be more dangerous.

Instead of confronting the big challenges of our time - public health, air pollution and global heating - he is focused on the hours of operation of bus lanes, which isn't even a central government responsibility.

Read about Irresponsible Sunak Wants More Dangerous Streets.

Cycling Down 5.2% in Year to June 2023

11th September 2023

Cycling traffic index 2023
Cycling traffic index 2023

Cycling traffic in England was down by 5.2% in the year to June 2023.

Where does that figure come from, and how does it compare with vehicle miles travelled in the same period?

Read about Cycling Down 5.2% in Year to June 2023.

Why Cambridge Sustainable Travel Zone is Needed - Sustrans

5th September 2023

Cycling at Christ's College Cambridge
Christ's College, Cambridge

Sustrans are backing the proposed Greater Cambridge Sustainable Travel Zone.

What is state of play on this scheme that forms part of the Making Connections plan, and what are the next steps?

Read about Why Cambridge Sustainable Travel Zone is Needed - Sustrans.

Majority of Car Trips are for Leisure or Shopping

31st August 2023

Purpose of car trips 2022
Purpose of car trips 2022

In a blow to those who like to portray cars as essential, government statistics show that the majority of drivers are pootling to a National Trust property or the shops. What else does the National Travel Survey reveal about our travel habits?

Read about the Majority of Car Trips are for Leisure or Shopping.

85% of Drivers Speed on 20mph Roads

29th August 2023

Speeds on 20mph roads
Distribution of speeds on 20mph roads

85% of drivers exceeded the speed limit on 20mph roads in 2022. That is the starkest figure in the DfT's Speed Compliance Statistics for Great Britain, but there are other insights too into the extent of law-breaking on the roads.

Read about the 85% of Drivers Speed on 20mph Roads.

Transport Planning Society Writes to Sunak to Defend LTNs

10th August 2023

LTN in Kingston
LTN in Kingston-upon-Thames, by Jack Fifield, CC BY 2.0

The Transport Planning Society has written to Rishi Sunak to defend and support LTNs and the wider active travel agenda.

It comes after Sunak used an interview with the Sunday Telegraph to promote rat-running on residential streets.

Read about Transport Planning Society Writes to Sunak to Defend LTNs.

Britons Split Over the Merits of Cycling

1st August 2023

Britons' views of modes of travel
Britons' views of modes of travel

When asked whether they favoured using various modes of travel, Britons were evenly split about cycling.

The idea of riding a bike appealed to those in other countries more, though.

Read about Britons Split Over the Merits of Cycling.

Sunak Wants More Rat-Running Traffic on Residential Streets

30th July 2023

Planters on Beech Grove
Planters on Beech Grove

Sunak wants more rat-running traffic on residential streets throughout the UK.

Why is he uninterested in quality of life for residents, clean air, or residential roads that are safe for people to walk or cycle on?

Read about Sunak Wants More Rat-Running Traffic on Residential Streets.

Stop Building New Strategic Roads, says Transport Committee

29th July 2023

A1M
A1M

The House of Commons Transport Committee notes in a new report that National Highways has been handling complex network expansion projects badly.

Are these projects consistent with the UK's decarbonisation obligations, and should they be cancelled?

Read about Stop Building New Strategic Roads, says Transport Committee.

Strategic Active Travel Network Oxfordshire

25th July 2023

Fig 6.1 of the Ipsos Our Changing Travel Report
Cycling signs in Oxfordshire

Oxfordshire has planned a draft Strategic Active Travel Network for the whole county.

How did they go about it, and will it result in on-the-ground improvements to the cycle network?

Read about the Strategic Active Travel Network Oxfordshire.

Ipsos Our Changing Travel Report for DfT

24th July 2023

Fig 6.1 of the Ipsos Our Changing Travel Report
Fig 6.1 of the Ipsos Our Changing Travel Report

An Ipsos report on attitudes to travel pre- and post-pandemic was published earlier this month.

It shows how people say they travel, and what would persuade them to travel more sustainably and use their cars less.

Read about the Ipsos Our Changing Travel Report for DfT.

Quantified Carbon Reductions

5th July 2023

Avoid Shift Improve interventions
Avoid Shift Improve interventions

A look at Quantified Carbon Reductions, which will be a central plank of councils' next Local Transport Plans, unless PM Sunak sabotages all the work that has been done on this.

Read about Quantified Carbon Reductions.

M1 Widening Made Traffic Move More Slowly

4th July 2023

M1 motorway
M1 motorway, by Mark Anderson, CC BY-SA 2.0

Five years after the M1 was widened between junctions 10 and 13, traffic moved more slowly than before.

Why did none of the predicted time savings and economic benefits materialise?

Read the M1 Widening Made Traffic Move More Slowly.

CCC Progress Report 2023

28th June 2023

Surface transport emissions to 2022
Surface transport emissions, 1990-2022

The Climate Change Committee's 2023 Progress Report paints a picture of a government relying on unproven techno-fixes, and without the courage to make the meaningful changes needed to prevent climate breakdown.

Read more about CCC Progress Report 2023.

British Championships Men's Road Race 2023

27th June 2023

Boosbeck, British Cycling Championships
Boosbeck, men's road race at the British Cycling Championships

Photos from the men's road race at the British Cycling Championships 2023, held on a circuit starting and finishing at Saltburn-by-the-Sea.

Read more about British Championships Men's Road Race 2023.

DfT Will Fail to Meet its 2025 Active Travel Objectives - NAO

7th June 2023

Toucan crossing, Leeds
Toucan crossing, Leeds

The DfT is not on track to meet its 2025 active travel objectives. It hasn't been tracking what councils have done with their funding, and the incompetence of some councils has led to 'patchy delivery'. Can Active Travel England save the day?

Read about DfT Will Fail to Meet its 2025 Active Travel Objectives - NAO.

Active Travel England Annual Report

6th June 2023

Transport Decarbonisation Plan goals
TDP/ATE goals

There's no doubt that Active Travel England have been hyperactive since they were set up in August 2022. What does the Annual Report say about the agency's performance?

Read about Active Travel England Annual Report.

Ten Points about Active Travel Fund 4

4th June 2023

Cycle track in Leeds
Cycle track at Sand Hill Lane, Leeds

ATF4 bids have already been made and decided on, but the ATE guidance to councils reveals a lot about why bids succeeded or failed, and what schemes ATE wants to fund.

Read about Ten Points about Active Travel Fund 4.

Active Travel England to be Consulted on Planning Applications from Today

1st June 2023

Harrogate housing development
Bellway housing development, Harrogate

Active Travel England becomes a statutory consultee in the planning process from today. Could this be a game-changer?

Read about Active Travel England to be Consulted on Planning Applications from Today.

ATF4 Allocations

19th May 2023

ATE logo
ATE logo

The allocations to councils from Active Travel Fund 4 were announced today. Who were the big winners?

Read about ATF4 Allocations.

Only 20% Traffic Reduction by 2030 Consistent with UK Climate Goals

18th May 2023

Traffic
Traffic

A new report called Reverse Gear assesses government policies on modal shift, travel demand and electrification, and concludes that we need a 20% traffic reduction by 2030. Does the DfT have the policies to achieve it?

Read about Only 20% Traffic Reduction by 2030 Consistent with UK Climate Goals.

DfT Major Road-Building Policy Pays Minimal Attention to Climate and Nature

10th May 2023

A1M
A1M

The DfT is consulting on a new policy for motorways and trunk roads. Is it a case of 'if you want to build a road, you can build a road'?

Read about DfT Major Road-Building Policy Pays Minimal Attention to Climate and Nature.

New Cycling Stats from  the DfT

29th April 2023

Graph showing cycling levels in England to December 2022
Cycling levels to December 2022

The DfT has launched a new Cycling Index for England, showing cycling levels on a rolling annual basis. How does it look for the year to December 2022?

Read about New Cycling Stats from the DfT.

Alan Turing Institute to Collaborate with Active Travel England

31st March 2023

Alan Turing Institute
Alan Turing Institute

The Alan Turing Institute is to collaborate with Active Travel England, to create new software and data science techniques. This will help councils build infrastructure that will deliver benefits to the maximum number of residents.

Read about Alan Turing Institute to Collaborate with Active Travel England.

Active Travel England Publishes Local Authority Ratings

11th March 2023

ATE local authority ratings map
ATE local authority ratings map

Active Travel England has published its ratings of local authorities in England. They are on a scale of 0 to 4. Who is brilliant and who is awful?

Read about Active Travel England Publishes Local Authority Ratings.

Government to Make Savage Cuts to Active Travel Spending

10th March 2023

DfT
DfT, by Steph Gray, Licence CC BY-SA 2.0

As the DfT budget is squeezed, the Transport Secretary is planning savage cuts to the active travel budget.

Read about Government to Make Savage Cuts to Active Travel Budget.

Has Active Travel England Given Up on Cycling?

20th February 2023

Harrogate Stray
Harrogate Stray

In the latest round of active travel funding there is a particular emphasis on walking and wheeling - not cycling. Has Active Travel England given up on cycling?

Read about Has Active Travel England Given Up on Cycling?

Inspiring Welsh Road-Building Policy

15th February 2023

Menai Bridge
Menai Bridge, by John Firth, Licence CC BY 2.0

Wales has announced an inspiring road-building policy, with strict tests before any new highways can go ahead.

Read about Inspiring Welsh Road-Building Policy.

Active Travel Fund 4 (ATF4) Announced

6th February 2023

Active Travel England logo
ATE logo

Active Travel Fund 4 (ATF4) has launched today. Local authorities can bid for a share of £200 million for active travel projects.

Read about Active Travel Fund 4 (ATF4).

Draft Manual for Streets is Promising

31st January 2023

Department for Transport
DfT, by Steph Gray, Licence CC BY-SA 2.0

An early report about the draft new Manual for Streets is encouraging. It would ask developers to create streets with a maximum design speed of 20mph.

Read about the Draft Manual for Streets is Promising.

Hackney Moves Forward with Low Traffic Plans

29th January 2023

A Greener Healthier Hackney
A Greener Healthier Hackney

While some councils set out green goals that they have no intention of implementing, others are genuine and are getting on with positive changes.

The London Borough of Hackney has a 3-year implementation plan.

Read about Hackney Moves Forward with Low Traffic Plans.

Islington Forges Ahead with Liveable Neighbourhoods

19th January 2023

LTN in London
LTN in Kingston-upon-Thames, by Jack Fifield, Licence CC BY 2.0

Islington is retaining its existing LTNs or Liveable Neighbourhoods and forging ahead with more. Meanwhile Birmingham City Council is making LTNs in Moseley and Kings Heath permanent.

Read about Islington Forges Ahead with Liveable Neighbourhoods.

ATF4 Funding Will Be Released 'Soon to Very Soon'

17th January 2023

Houses of Parliament
Houses of Parliament, London

In a session with the APPGCW, Minister with responsibility for cycling Jesse Norman said that the Active Travel Fund 4 will open 'soon to very soon'. Pavement parking and new housing developments were among the other topics discussed.

Read about ATF4 Funding Will Be Released 'Soon to Very Soon'.

£32.9 Million Capability Fund

2nd January 2023

Cycle track, Leeds
Cycle track, Leeds

Active Travel England has announced a £32.9 million Capability Fund, designed to train up engineers and planners at local authorities.

The ultimate objective is to build high-quality active travel schemes to consistent standards across England.

Read about £32.9 Million Capability Fund.


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