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MPs set to debate David Cameron's promised 'Cycling Revolution'Big Ben © Simon MacMichael

MPs set to debate David Cameron's promised 'Cycling Revolution'

Sustrans leads calls on government to implement findings of Get Britain Cycling report
by Simon_MacMichael
Wed, Oct 15, 2014 22:05
13

A year after Prime Minister David Cameron promised a “cycling revolution” in Britain, Members of Parliament are set to debate the progress being made towards the government implementing the recommendations of last year’s Get Britain Cycling report.

But cycling organisations including the sustainable transport charity, Sustrans, are accusing the government of dragging its heels over publishing its cycling and walking plan.

The debate, due to start in the main chamber of the House of Commons between 11.15 and 11.30am, will be led by MPs Ian Austin and Dr Julian Huppert, co-chairs of the All Party Parliamentary Cycling Group which compiled the report, and Steve Birne.

The motion being put before MPs is:

That this House supports the recommendations of the All-Party Parliamentary Cycling Group’s report ‘Get Britain Cycling’; endorses the target of 10 per cent of all journeys being by bike by 2025, and 25 per cent by 2050; and calls on the Government to show strong political leadership, including an annual Cycling Action Plan, sustained funding for cycling and progress towards meeting the report’s recommendations.

Sustrans says it is joined by British Cycling, CTC, Living Streets, the Bicycle Association and London Cycling Campaign in urging the government to publish its cycling and walking plan.

Speaking on behalf of those groups, the Bristol-based charity insists that any such plan must include a commitment to spend of at least £10 per head per year for cycling, that money be set aside for walking, and that support, development and training be given to local authorities.

Claire Francis, head of policy at Sustrans, said: “It appears the government has abandoned its commitment to deliver this country a walking and cycling plan that will ease congestion, boost the economy and improve our health and lifestyle.

“A year after it was promised, we are still waiting for any indication of political will or dedicated investment that will help deliver the cycling revolution the Prime Minister called for.

“In order to transform our local journeys and encourage more people to walk and cycle, we urgently need a plan with a vision for the future, strong targets and a commitment to long-term, consistent funding to deliver it.”

Sustrans
Get Britain Cycling
David Cameron
APPCG
Simon MacMichael

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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13 comments

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Airzound | 10 years ago
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What a waste of bloody time. Nothing more will be achieved and all promises will be broken, frankly IDGAF. UK is a shit place to ride a bike and always will be.

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hardgrit replied to Airzound | 10 years ago
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Suppose it depends where you cycle. Completely agree busy city commuter roads are generally shit but if you want peace and quiet get out in North york moors or equilvelant if you can. I was riding over lythe fell from slaidburn couple of weeks ago. Saw one car in an hour. Bliss

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bikebot | 10 years ago
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Well, Julian Lewis MP for New Forest (east) decided to stand up and waffle on about the problems of "massive sportives" for a few minutes.

From the reaction of the other members in the chamber, he may as well have turned up in an Audi Q7 and driven up and down the benches blaring his horn at everyone He didn't seem to understand the irony of proposing limits on the number of cyclists during a debate entitled "Get Britain Cycling".

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crazy-legs replied to bikebot | 10 years ago
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bikebot wrote:

Well, Julian Lewis MP for New Forest (east) decided to stand up and waffle on about the problems of "massive sportives" for a few minutes.

From the reaction of the other members in the chamber, he may as well have turned up in an Audi Q7 and driven up and down the benches blaring his horn at everyone He didn't seem to understand the irony of proposing limits on the number of cyclists during a debate entitled "Get Britain Cycling".

And that's exactly the problem - the "debate" rapidly goes off track into anecdotes and unrelated rubbish. This isn't about events and racing and lycra, this is about making towns and cities more attractive for people to travel around by bike - at the same time promoting health, fitness, better air quality, less congestion...

But no, one MP goes off one one about half a dozen events a year. 29
Has anyone brought up registration and insurance and road tax yet?

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bikebot replied to crazy-legs | 10 years ago
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crazy-legs wrote:

And that's exactly the problem - the "debate" rapidly goes off track into anecdotes and unrelated rubbish. This isn't about events and racing and lycra, this is about making towns and cities more attractive for people to travel around by bike - at the same time promoting health, fitness, better air quality, less congestion...

But no, one MP goes off one one about half a dozen events a year. 29
Has anyone brought up registration and insurance and road tax yet?

No, to be fair it was mostly on topic. It's finished now and I wasn't paying that much attention (working).

Some conservative backbencher stood up near the end, and wheeled out some anecdote about cyclists riding two abreast in the road whilst ignoring the available cycle line. The response was both polite and the commons equivalent of an eye roll.

Most of the questions that I did hear were actually pretty similar to those you'd expect from someone here. In short, "yes, this is all very good, but show us the money", followed by various exchanges between the parties challenging their respective lack of commitment. I know various journalists and bloggers will have been pulling the debate apart properly, so will look out for their analysis as to whether there was anything useful in the whole thing.

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hardgrit | 10 years ago
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I wont hold my breath. Ive been fighting my local council all year to get them to stop people parking illegally in cycle lanes. Its still not resolved as they are giving the illegally parked drivers the chance to object to lines being put down to force them to stop parking illegally!!! WTF! bureaucracy at its best

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jollygoodvelo replied to hardgrit | 10 years ago
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hardgrit wrote:

I wont hold my breath. Ive been fighting my local council all year to get them to stop people parking illegally in cycle lanes. Its still not resolved as they are giving the illegally parked drivers the chance to object to lines being put down to force them to stop parking illegally!!! WTF! bureaucracy at its best

Local councils... not sure I'd bother with. MPs are generally much more concerned about their future, especially in an election year.

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jollygoodvelo | 10 years ago
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Well, I've written to my MP on the subject. If I can't get their attention in general election year... 3

In case anyone doesn't know: http://www.theyworkforyou.com/ - it's really easy. You don't have to be a political scientist and write a long essay with references and everything. But when there's something you feel strongly about, tell them what you think. We pay their wages after all.

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jollygoodvelo replied to jollygoodvelo | 10 years ago
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Gizmo_ wrote:

Well, I've written to my MP on the subject. If I can't get their attention in general election year... 3

In case anyone doesn't know: http://www.theyworkforyou.com/ - it's really easy. You don't have to be a political scientist and write a long essay with references and everything. But when there's something you feel strongly about, tell them what you think. We pay their wages after all.

Just to follow up: I got a response today. It's a beautifully worded example of how to talk about something without actually promising anything, but at least I got a response. Let's see.

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pikeamus | 10 years ago
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Looking forward to several hours of prevarication and ministers seeking reassurance that traffic flows will not be adversely effected.

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Housecathst | 10 years ago
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Que the comments from the moron MPs

"But cyclists dont even pay road tax"

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levermonkey replied to Housecathst | 10 years ago
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Housecathst wrote:

Que the comments from the moron MPs

"But cyclists don't even pay road tax"

Don't forget

Must wear helmets
Must wear Hi-Vis
Must ride in the gutter
Must get out of the way of law abiding car drivers
Must be licenced
Must be insured
Must have a number plate
RLJ
Speeding
Knocking over pensioners/guide dogs on pavements/crossings

Do we have enough for a game of "Wank Word Bingo" yet? 4

Avatar
BlodadTand replied to levermonkey | 10 years ago
0 likes
levermonkey wrote:
Housecathst wrote:

Que the comments from the moron MPs

"But cyclists don't even pay road tax"

Don't forget

Must wear helmets
Must wear Hi-Vis
Must ride in the gutter
Must get out of the way of law abiding car drivers
Must be licenced
Must be insured
Must have a number plate
RLJ
Speeding
Knocking over pensioners/guide dogs on pavements/crossings

Do we have enough for a game of "Wank Word Bingo" yet? 4

http://i.imgur.com/f5EzI9j.jpg

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