Warm Words but Few Clues as to Labour’s Cycling and Walking Policy
With a General Election on the cards later this year, and a sense of despair at Mr Sunak’s lack of interest in active travel, what can we expect if Labour forms the next government?
Cycling Electric spoke to Fabian Hamilton, Labour MP for Leeds North and new co-Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Cycling and Walking. They hoped for some clues as to Labour’s cycling and walking policy.
I’ve summarised Mr Hamilton’s comments below – but don’t expect too much.
The Labour Party feels it is carrying a priceless Ming vase across a highly polished floor. It is adopting a ‘small target’ strategy, wanting to give as few opportunities as possible to the Conservatives to misrepresent their policies and play on voters’ fears.
Further, Hamilton is not a shadow minister, so is not speaking for Keir Starmer’s team.
Fabian Hamilton Rides a Bike
Cycling Electric first establishes that Fabian Hamilton rides a bike – in fact he had several in his Parliamentary office.
His wife, though, is put off by danger from motor vehicles.
‘My wife likes cycling, but she is frightened of the roads. Every year we will head to rural Norfolk and take her mountain bike out and she’s happier, but it’s far lesser seen on the roads’.
fabian hamilton mp
Zero Sum Game
Early comments from the Leeds North MP are not encouraging. He claims that on transport, a Labour government can please everyone.
‘Firstly, transport is not a zero sum game. It’s not cycling versus the car, it’s accommodating everyone to make it as carbon-free as possible.
The Labour Party is not anti-motorist, but we are realists. We realise if we do not decarbonise, transport will continue to disproportionately contribute to worsening climate issues.
Politically speaking, the trouble is when you say those words you’re accused of a war on the motorist’.
fabian hamilton mp
I suggest that with limited road space, transport is largely a zero sum game (i.e. one side’s gain is the other side’s loss).
At the moment, the odds are stacked in favour of motorists and against cycling. We desperately need a government with the courage to level the playing field – and that will often mean arrangements which make driving slightly less convenient.
Making Cycling Easy and Inviting
Hamilton’s comments on infrastructure to make short local trips by bike an option for more people are less cautious and more encouraging.
‘Plenty of people in this country could cycle an e-bike very easily, or walk more. It’s ingrained that to go to the shop 500m away most of us drive, but why not walk?
A little bit of exercise goes a long way. We know that getting up off the sofa at every advert interval does yourself immense good just by standing up. Not moving for an hour damages your heart and cardiovascular system. It is not appropriate to use the car for every short journey.
You need to make it easy and inviting [to cycle]. We must make it appealing to go from the front door to a local facility and it be linked up in a handful of ways outside of the default private car option.
Bicycles need some encouragement through education, that is people have to have a go in confidence they can do a trip safely. It’s no coincidence that access to bikes is high, but journeys are low; most are locked away in sheds never moving.
What will incentivise a shift? Probably it’s cycleways that are safe and joined up’.
fabian hamilton mp
The MP adds further comments about infrastructure.
‘We need separate infrastructure for cyclists – lights, roundabouts, parking – away from the road systems where possible.
Nothing would encourage cycling more than whole infrastructure systems away from the motorised road network’.
fabian hamilton mp
I suggest that cycle infrastructure largely away from roads is unrealistic.
In urban areas there may be some opportunities for cycle paths through parks, but they will only ever make up a small percentage of any network.
If you want to build a high-quality network in a town, there is no way of avoiding the road network. Most cycle facilities will be on roads.
15-Minute Neighbourhoods and Appealing to Voters’ Worst Instincts
Hamilton gives the impression of being in favour of 15 minute neighbourhoods, where facilities are available locally.
However, he says the idea ‘has been captured by nutcases’. This is a reference to conspiracy theorists who claim that 15 minute neighbourhoods mean not being allowed to leave the area where you live without special permission from the council.
He says, correctly, that some Conservative Party MPs (and even Ministers) will take an opportunity to appeal to voters’ worst instincts and fears.
Appealing to voters’ worst instincts and fears is in the Conservative Party’s DNA – hence we get policies which do tremendous damage to Britain, like Brexit.
Trying to make political capital out of conspiracy theories about 15 minute neighbourhoods is not only opportunistic and cynical, it’s also weak and cowardly. The Conservatives as a party don’t have the courage to make the case for policies which are right and necessary and in Britain’s long-term interests.
Funding
Fabian Hamilton’s comments about funding active travel were not very specific.
‘The budget has been knocked a bit, I hope we can restore it.
My colleagues are intelligent people, they will look at the cost-to-benefit ratios, they’ll look at Waltham Forest’s investment and the return that gained for society.
We’ll take a balanced view, looking at what the Dutch have done. I am happy that the walking and cycling budget remain one combined budget.
Cycling has an impressive economic argument. Not only is there the business of manufacturing, we have an easy win on lowering carbon emissions, improving public health. There are a lot of benefits, so we need a more joined-up approach’.
fabian hamilton mp
Bill Esterson
Labour’s Shadow Transport Minister recently made a few comments about active travel on Linked In.
He said that 20mph speed limits and LTNs are not anti-car, as suggested by conspiracy theorists and Transport Secretary Mark Harper.
Esterson says Labour supports integrated transport, meaning giving people attractive and affordable choices. This includes safe routes for cycling and walking.