Transport Secretary Under Fire to Set Clear Targets on Walking and Cycling in England
More than 50 groups connected to transport and public health are urging Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander to set specific targets for levels of walking and cycling in England. The groups argue that plans as they stand are too vague, contrasting with the long-term objectives and predictable funding cycles for other modes of transportation such as road and rail.
The letter, signed by prominent organizations including British Cycling, Cycling UK, and the National Trust, emphasizes the need for a clear, long-term national plan comparable to strategic transport programmes. It highlights that transport planners for established modes have confidence in their plans due to decades-long objectives and funding commitments, while active travel remains piecemeal despite making up nearly a third of all trips.
The government has promised unprecedented levels of funding for walking, wheeling, and cycling, with the consultation on the third cycling and walking investment strategy (CWIS3) set to bring about a "fundamental shift" in how active travel is treated. However, without clear targets, groups are warning that even the existing objective of making active travel safe, easy, and accessible by 2035 may be unachievable.
The letter calls for specific targets to be met by 2030, including that 50% of trips under five miles in towns and cities should be walked, wheeled, or cycled. It also argues for a national strategy for active travel networks, with coherent, connected, consistent, and accessible routes linking key destinations such as rail and bus stations, hospitals, and schools.
Critics argue that the Department for Transport's approach is less engaged with active travel than it was under its predecessor, with momentum being lost. The chief executive of Walk Wheel Cycle Trust, Xavier Brice, believes CWIS3 has failed to live up to its promise of shifting active travel from stop-start funding and priorities to a long-term framework.
A spokesperson for the Department for Transport claims that £616m has been committed to Active Travel England up to 2030, with the aim that walking, wheeling, and cycling will be easy, safe, and accessible by then. The department is now consulting on how to achieve this goal and encourages stakeholders and the public to have their say.
More than 50 groups connected to transport and public health are urging Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander to set specific targets for levels of walking and cycling in England. The groups argue that plans as they stand are too vague, contrasting with the long-term objectives and predictable funding cycles for other modes of transportation such as road and rail.
The letter, signed by prominent organizations including British Cycling, Cycling UK, and the National Trust, emphasizes the need for a clear, long-term national plan comparable to strategic transport programmes. It highlights that transport planners for established modes have confidence in their plans due to decades-long objectives and funding commitments, while active travel remains piecemeal despite making up nearly a third of all trips.
The government has promised unprecedented levels of funding for walking, wheeling, and cycling, with the consultation on the third cycling and walking investment strategy (CWIS3) set to bring about a "fundamental shift" in how active travel is treated. However, without clear targets, groups are warning that even the existing objective of making active travel safe, easy, and accessible by 2035 may be unachievable.
The letter calls for specific targets to be met by 2030, including that 50% of trips under five miles in towns and cities should be walked, wheeled, or cycled. It also argues for a national strategy for active travel networks, with coherent, connected, consistent, and accessible routes linking key destinations such as rail and bus stations, hospitals, and schools.
Critics argue that the Department for Transport's approach is less engaged with active travel than it was under its predecessor, with momentum being lost. The chief executive of Walk Wheel Cycle Trust, Xavier Brice, believes CWIS3 has failed to live up to its promise of shifting active travel from stop-start funding and priorities to a long-term framework.
A spokesperson for the Department for Transport claims that £616m has been committed to Active Travel England up to 2030, with the aim that walking, wheeling, and cycling will be easy, safe, and accessible by then. The department is now consulting on how to achieve this goal and encourages stakeholders and the public to have their say.
. they're trying to make it sound like there's a clear plan in place, but groups are saying that it's all just piecemeal right now 
. i get that it's better than nothing, but 50% of trips under five miles should def be walked or cycled by 2030 
... that's a pretty solid target if you ask me! what's concerning is that the department for transport seems to be moving slower than their predecessors 
. and £616m might sound like a lot, but when you're talking about making active travel safe, easy, and accessible, it feels like we need more 
. It's great that the government has committed £616m to Active Travel England, but setting specific goals would help ensure meaningful progress is made. I think it's essential to have a national strategy that prioritizes connected, accessible routes linking key destinations, making active travel an integral part of daily life. Without clear targets, we risk losing momentum and seeing the benefits of increased walking and cycling rates plateau. The existing 2035 objective might be ambitious, but with specific targets by 2030, I believe we can make a more substantial impact on reducing our reliance on cars.
. These groups are literally beggin' for clear targets on walking & cycling, but noooo the gov just gives vague promises. I mean, come on, if you're gonna give us money, at least give us some actual goals to work towards 
. 50% of trips under five miles should be walked or cycled by 2030? That's doable! And a national strategy for active travel networks sounds like a total no-brainer 
. I'm all for it, but the gov needs to step up their game if they wanna actually make a change 
I'm like totally shocked that the Transport Secretary isn't setting clear targets for walking and cycling in England yet! Like, what's up with that? 
. The groups are totally right, it needs to be concrete and specific, like 50% of trips under five miles should be walked, wheeled, or cycled by 2030 
. Can't wait for the consultation, I'll def be submitting my thoughts 
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. remember when london was supposed to get a cycle superhighway? that was over 10 yrs ago. they promised so much but didnt deliver. now theyre tryin to set targets and stuff, but its just too vague. i think they should be more specific like "make cycling safe for all ages by 2028" or somethin 
transport secretary needs to step up her game if we wanna see more people ditchin' cars for bikes & walks! 
50% of trips under 5 miles should be on two wheels or foot, stat! 
2030 deadline is a good start, but it's not just about funding, it's about creating a network of safe routes that connect everything. 
#active travel now 
what if CWIS3 doesn't deliver? i think 50% of trips under five miles should be walked, wheeled, or cycled that's a pretty achievable goal imo 
. And what's with the lack of a national strategy for active travel networks? It's like they're expecting us to just magically build these awesome bike lanes and paths 
cant believe gov is being so vague about targets 4 walking n cycling! they r all talkin bout makin it safe n accessible by 2035 but wot actual targets? like, how many miles shd we be walkin or cyclin each year? need som clear numbers n a plan 
. If they want to make active travel safe, easy & accessible by 2035, I'd expect them to at least set some specific goals for now 
. Maybe if they had a clear plan, more people would get excited about it? 
... give me some concrete numbers and goals, you know? 
. Without a national plan that's comparable to other modes of transportation, it's just gonna be piecemeal stuff happening here and there, which isn't exactly what we need 
. We need to make walking and cycling the norm, not some nice-to-have.
. I'm not saying they didn't do anything, but this CWIS3 thing needs some real teeth if it wants to make a difference 
. We need to hold them accountable and get some concrete plans in place 
.
. It's not about being vague or lacking ambition - it's about making sure we're using the right tools for the job 
