HedgehogCycling.co.uk

Online cycling magazine

DfT publishes timetable and approach to Cycling & Walking Investment Strategy

19th December 2015

The Department for Transport (DfT) has published the first part of its Cycling & Walking Investment Strategy (CWIS). The document is called 'Setting the First Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy', and is described as an outline of the timetable and approach to developing the CWIS. CTC calls it the 'mission statement' for the CWIS.

The eleven-page document is divided into three sections: 'where are we now?', 'the case for change', and 'delivering our ambition'.

Where are we now?

According to the first section, the government wants to create an environment where walking and cycling is the norm for short journeys. It will support individuals in the travel choices they make.

The CWIS is to be 'an historic innovation' which an help achieve the Prime Minister's ambition of a 'cycling revolution'. The timetable begins in winter 2015/16, with a 'confirmation of statement of funds available and publication of Ambition.' In spring 2016, 'governance structures agreed', and there will be a public consultation on the first draft of the CWIS. The CWIS will be published in summer 2016.

The CWIS will be delivered in partnership with local government and others.

The case for change

The document sets out the case for change in terms of the deficit and the economy. Everything comes down to money with this government. Yes, it's important, but we're going badly wrong if money is our god, and we start believing it's the only important thing in life. Anyway, you could say who cares what the motivation is, as long as the CWIS is ambitious and funded.

Cycling and walking are to be the first consideration in any new street design or maintenance programme, and that will ensure that the streets are safer for vulnerable road users, and help tackle air pollution and climate change.

The CWIS is to build on the engagement and support from the consultation on the Cycling Delivery Plan idea (which now seems to have been dropped or superseded).

Delivering our ambition

The starting principle is that there's an ambition for cycling and walking to become the norm for short journeys, or as part of longer journeys 'with places that are designed first and foremost for people on foot or bicycle.' 

The document says that the DfT has commissioned a study into a National Walking and Cycling Infrastructure Plan. This will inform the 'nature and composition of the Investment Plan', which will be published with the Statement of Funds Available early in 2016.

Comment on the DfT's document

The document has lots of promising ideas and sentiments in it, but CTC point out that 'the DfT's ambitions for sustainable transport are starkly at odds with the Chancellor's recent Autumn Statement, which included just £300m for cycling and walking between now and 2021. This is a 58% cut compared with projected spending of £142m just for cycling in 2015/16 alone.' CTC is calling for a reallocation of funds to cycling from the £15bn roads budget.

Osborne's spending review slashes cycling funding

Chancellor George Osborne betrayed Britain's cyclists in his autumn statement, with dismal funding for cycling announced. Read more about Osborne's spending review slashes cycling funding. 

Tour de Yorkshire route announcement

The Tour de Yorkshire 2016 route was announced on 9th December 2016, with three fantastic stages, the first of them from Beverley to Settle, the second from Otley to Doncaster, and the third from Middlesbrough to Scarborough. Read about the Tour de Yorkshire route announcement.