More people throughout England could soon be cycling and walking following plans to boost sustainable, active transport, launched by transport secretary Grant Shapps .
Pop-up bike lanes with protected space for cycling, wider pavements, safer junctions, and cycle and bus-only corridors will be created nationwide within weeks as part of a £250m emergency active travel fund.
It represents the first stage of a £2bn investment, as part of £5bn in new funding announced for cycling and buses in February.
Following unprecedented levels of walking and cycling across the UK during the Covid-19 pandemic, Shapps said the plans “will help encourage more people to choose alternatives to public transport when they need to travel, making healthier habits easier and helping make sure the road, bus and rail networks are ready to respond to future increases in demand”.
The government will fund and work with local authorities across the country to help make it easier for people to use bikes to get around – including Greater Manchester, which wants to create 150 miles of protected cycle track, and Transport for London, which plans a ‘bike Tube’ network above Underground lines.
Fast-tracked statutory guidance released by the government tells councils to reallocate road-space for significantly-increased numbers of cyclists and pedestrians.
In towns and cities, some streets could become bike and bus-only while others remain available for motorists.
More side streets could be closed to through traffic, to create low-traffic neighbourhoods and reduce rat-running while maintaining access for vehicles.
Furthermore, vouchers will be issued for cycle repairs, and plans are being developed for greater provision of bike fixing facilities.
Shapps said: “During this crisis, millions of people have discovered cycling – whether for exercise or as a means of safe, socially-distanced transport.
“While there is no change to the ‘stay at home’ message, when the country does get back to work we need those people to stay on their bikes and be joined by many more.
“Otherwise, with public transport’s capacity severely restricted at this time, our trains and buses could become overcrowded and our roads gridlocked – holding up emergency services, critical workers and vital supplies.
“We know cars will continue to remain vital for many, but as we look to the future we must build a better country with greener travel habits, cleaner air and healthier communities.”
An updated Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy will be launched in the summer, with further measures to transform cycling and walking to deliver the government’s aims to double cycling and increase walking by 2025.
These include the creation of a national cycling and walking commissioner and inspectorate; higher standards for permanent infrastructure across England; getting GPs to prescribe cycling and exercise; and creating a long-term budget for cycling and walking similar to what happens for roads.
The government is also working alongside the tech sector to see how technology could be used to help commuters stagger their journeys and advise on alternative modes of travel.
Transport tech experts including Google, Microsoft, Citymapper, Zipabout and Trainline met last week at a roundtable chaired by the Shapps, to explore how technology could help ease overcrowding and reduce the risk of a second spike in coronavirus cases.
Potential solutions could include mobile phone apps warning when public transport is particularly busy or advising on a quieter time to travel, allowing people to flex their hours and prevent the transport network from being overburdened.
Other measures announced by Shapps designed to reduce the burden on public transport networks unable to operate at full capacity due to social distancing rules include a £10m funding boost for the government’s on-street residential EV charge point scheme and bringing forward the start of e-scooter trials from next year to next month.
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https://www.cittimagazine.co.uk/scotland-invests-in-pop-up-active-travel-infrastructure/
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