There are few everyday activities that have the potential to genuinely improve society and change the lives of individuals. Cycling is one of them. Whether it is through easing congestion, tackling traffic emissions or improving health, the bicycle can play a significant role in tackling some of society’s biggest problems.
Transport today needs to deliver efficient, cost-effective mobility for ever-greater volumes of people and goods, while reducing the impact of transport on the environment. It’s a challenge especially with forecasts suggesting that traffic will grow by 20% between 2003 and 2015.
Cycling, however, could make a significant contribution to meeting this challenge. But to do so it must be recognised as a central component within the transport mix. For the first time, there is compelling evidence to demonstrate that sustained investment in cycling can make a substantial impact. Cycling England’s economic modelling has sought to quantify the benefits of cycling and revealed that a 20% increase in cycling in 2012 will release a cumulative saving of £500m by 2015. Furthermore, an increase of 50% would create total savings of more than £1.3bn.
This evidence has directly informed our proposal to government to inject more funding into cycling initiatives. Cycling England currently runs a small-scale programme of integrated projects funded by the Department for Transport, which is already making a difference. Bikeability for example, which replaced Rospa’s cycling proficiency tests is already making huge strides in equipping children with the skills and knowledge they need to cycle on today’s busy roads. And our cycling demonstration towns’ project is also yielding results – in just 12 months, Aylesbury has seen a 42% increase in cycling, Exeter 26% and Darlington 57%.
But we can do more. To make a significant impact and deliver substantial economic benefit, Cycling England has recommended that this programme is now scaled up through increased and sustained investment – specifically to the tune of £70m.
Is £70m realistic? True, it would amount to the largest-ever single investment by a UK government in cycling but the timing is right and the figure small in relation to the overall DfT budget. And the benefits are far-reaching – the number of cars on the school run would be cut by 5%, between 27 million and 54 million car journeys a year would be saved, in addition to 35,000 tonnes of CO2 each year.
For the first time, the organisations, programmes and evidence exist to create a landmark opportunity to support the strategic, long-term role cycling can play in helping to tackle today’s transport challenges. The question is one of will, ambition and vision.
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