Parliamentary Bike Ride 2023: “Urgency needed for cycle infrastructure”

A regular fixture in the calendar for cycle advocates is the Parliamentary Bike Ride, where MPs, Lords, experts and advocates join to highlight the need for support for cycling.

Run by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Cycling and Walking (APPGCW) and held in partnership with the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the UK, this year’s ride and meeting had some focus on infrastructure, with a press statement emphasising the need for “renewed focus on the urgency required to truly deliver the conditions and infrastructure for widespread uptake of cycling”.

That plea follows a poor year for government cash heading to cycling, with a £200-plus million cut in active travel budgets.

The APPGCW diplomatically noted this: “[It’s a] mixed time for Active Travel, as the spending review in March saw a significant cut to the budget for walking and cycling. Despite ambitious targets and repeated commitments, there has been some nervousness around the lack of funding to meet those challenges.”

Just a week ago, the National Audit Office (NAO) released its report that found the government was not on track to hit its ambitious active travel targets – for active travel to be the natural choice for shorter journeys in England, or part of longer journeys, by 2040. The NAO noted insufficient funding, as well as a number of other factors, some of which have been offset by the establishment of Active Travel England. The ATE is scoring some wins despite being severely hobbled in its task by that funding cut. Changes to the law, which mean that cycling must now be considered for large planning applications, shed some sunshine on the future of Active Travel.

The Parliamentary Bike Ride and conference saw the Minister responsible for Active Travel, Jesse Norman MP, give a speech alongside co-Chair of the group, Selaine Saxby MP, National Active Travel Commissioner, Chris Boardman, and Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the United Kingdom, Hanno Wurzner.

Highlighting the benefits of walking and cycling at the meeting, Jesse Norman MP said: ‘’What we are doing here is massively expanding the range of options available to every person in this country…We are not just talking about air quality, but essentially health and as I’ve said the whole time, taking up cycling is the single biggest health intervention anyone can make.’’

The group cycled a short circular route through Hyde Park, taking in some of the key cycling infrastructure. They returned to Prince Philip House for a panel discussion focusing on infrastructure where they heard from; Sophie Edmondson, Active Travel England, Xavier Brice, Sustrans, Dame Sarah Storey, Active Travel Commissioner for Greater Manchester, and Shelley Bontje, Project Manager, Dutch Cycling Embassy.

Ruth Cadbury MP, co-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Party Group for Cycling and Walking (APPGCW) said: ‘’After returning last year, this event is once again a real highlight in the Parliamentary and active travel calendar. It’s a unique opportunity for us all to come together, share a short ride through the streets of London – and talk about the key challenges facing the sector at the moment.

‘’I look forward to working with colleagues inside and outside of Parliament to enable more people across England to experience the benefits of cycling and walking.’’

Selaine Saxby MP, co-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Party Group for Cycling and Walking (APPGCW) said: ‘’I was delighted that the Active Travel Minister was able to join us for this fantastic event, reinforcing the government’s commitment to active travel. It was great to hear from such a wide range of those invested in the future of cycling and walking and recognise the cross party support for active travel.

‘’The breadth of organisations and Parliamentarians taking part shows just how much commitment there is to expanding active travel to more and more people.  Delivering the wide range of benefits that has, not just here in our capital city, but right the way across the country.’’

The event was and sponsored by Lime, Dott, TIER and Human Forest.