On July 27, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a revolutionary plan to overhaul cycling and walking in England. This plan will come into effect today, on July 28. “Now is the time,” stressed Johnson, “to press ahead with our biggest and boldest plans yet to boost active travel, so that everyone can feel the transformative benefits of cycling.” To do so, many different measures will be implemented. 

Cycling boosts our physical and mental well-being 

The prime minister wants to encourage the take up of healthy and active modes of transport. Cycle training will be offered to both adults and children. Bicycles could even be prescribed by a doctor! ECF’s report “Benefits of Cycling” reveals that cycling prevents 18,110 premature deaths per year in the EU-28. It also contributes to healthier lives, weight loss, and prevents many severe and chronic diseases. Alarmingly in the UK, 63% of adults are overweight or obese, as are one in three children aged 10 to 11. Studies have shown that cycling to work is linked to a 46% lower risk of heart disease compared with a non-active commute. Other studies also show that 4 hours after arriving in the classroom, concentration levels of children who are cycling or walking to school are 8% higher than for those who are getting a lift by car.   

Making cycling accessible to all 

Encouraging general practitioners to prescribe cycling and to allow patients to access bikes through their local surgery, will contribute to making cycling easier and cheaper to take up. Cycle repair vouchers are also to be offered. To increase access to e-bikes, Boris Johnson also announced a “national e-bike program”, which could be a loan program or an Italy-style subsidy scheme for purchasing e-bikes. 

This is a great step in the direction indicated in our recommendations for the COVID recovery: the establishment of a set of incentives to promote the take up of cycling.

Improving safety to spread a cycling-culture 

Making people on bikes feel safe is a key challenge in busy areas, as government officials say. This means investment in cycling infrastructures secured bicycle parking spaces as well as developing low traffic neighbourhoods are crucial. Thousands of bicycles lanes will be created throughout the whole country. 12 new areas will also be funded, to become more cyclist-friendly, imitating the pro-bicycle atmosphere from the Netherlands, known as “mini-Hollands”. Part of Johnson’s plan to spreading a cycling-culture and improving road safety, comes with a strengthened Highway code.   

England has seen how substantial the benefits of cycling are and is making a huge step to improve and develop cycling. Many countries still have a lot of potential to reach higher level of cycling. ECF applauds England’s decision and encourages all countries to embrace the “new golden age of cycling”.