Lib Dems commit to reversing cycling cuts (but could be bolder, says Cycling UK)

We’re not quite into the time of full-blown manifestos, but the UK’s General Election looms – scheduled to happen before January 2025 – and as the political parties enter their conference season, promises have been eeked out, including from the Liberal Democrats who are currently in Bournemouth for their meet.

A motion supporting reversing government cuts to cycling and walking in England at the Conference passed during this morning’s debate on transport.

Cycling UK was swift to support the commitment, but urged the Party to be bolder in its ambitions.

Ministers cut the dedicated budget for cycling and walking by 75% in March 2023, despite the National Audit Committee finding funding levels would not be enough to meet the government’s modest targets to double cycling by 2025. Currently fewer than 2% of journeys are cycled in England.

“The Liberal Democrats’ recognise the damage done by cutting funding for cycling and walking and have pledged to reverse these, which is a good start – but in their next manifesto, they must be bolder if they are to reap all of the many environmental, health and wellbeing benefits that come from more people cycling,” said Sarah McMonagle, Cycling UK’s director of external affairs.

“Getting more people out cycling and walking is a worthy ambition, but restoring a level underinvestment this government previously had in place will not achieve it.”

While active travel has long been generally supported, if not actively well funded, in the UK by political parties across the spectrum, there have been some signs that the topic will offer some dividing lines at the upcoming election. The move to expand ULEZ this year was not without controversy and PM Rishi Sunak even voiced his disapproval. Sunak is not generally known for backing green policies and had rowed back on some significant ones recently.