More and more countries all over the world are realising the tremendous potential of cycling and are drafting strategic plans to unlock it. While these plans vary in scope and ambition, they generally recognise cycling as an economically sensible solution to sedentary lifestyles, congestion, rising carbon emissions, accessibility and a plethora of other issues. However, in order to successfully deliver on the actions foreseen by the plans, those tasked with their implementation need the budget required to do so. While it seems that England is setting its authorities up for failure, Wales is putting its money where its mouth is.

Downshifting in England

England released its active travel strategy, “Gear Change: A bold vision for walking and cycling”, in July 2020. Spurred by the increase in active travel caused by the COVID-19-pandemic, the strategy contains the ambitious goal of doubling cycling. The government has also repeatedly stressed that the funds allotted to active travel amount to £3 billion, “more than any other government” dedicates to cycling. However, recent reports cast doubt on this claim, as the government is facing legal action over budget cuts. Furthermore, the National Audit Office found in a damning report that the Department for Transport is almost certainly not on track to meet any of its objectives.

The report clearly shows that the funding dedicated in England is simply not sufficient to achieve the goals of the strategy. According to the Department for Transport’s own estimate, government would have to dedicate £7 billion in total to deliver on the active travel strategy. Some experts set the figure even higher, at up to £18 billion. However, in March, rather than being increased, the budget for active travel was cut by £320 million for the next two years. It seems that England is shifting gears – but in the wrong direction.

Additionally, the report identifies a number of other problems: Active Travel England, the body specifically established for and tasked with the operational delivery of the strategy, is expected to be fully functional only in August 2023. There is a lack of knowledge about whether those actions that were already taken by local authorities were of good enough quality to effectively contribute to reaching the goals of the strategy. Active Travel England further estimates that 56% of local authorities have low capability and ambition to deliver active travel interventions. The National Audit Office as a result recommends readjusting the goals to something more achievable within the confines of the available budget.

The Climate Change Committee, an independent government body tasked with reporting to parliament about progress in measures against climate change, does not share this opinion in its recently released 2023 report. The Committee explicitly criticises the budget cuts and calls on the government to restore the previously agreed funding settlement. Active Travel Commissioner Chris Boardman himself emphasised the need for investment in active mobility at the annual Parliamentary Bike Ride in June. ECF member Cycling UK also calls for renewed commitment to providing the funding necessary to achieve the goals of the strategy.

Slow progress in Northern Ireland

While England is actively downgrading its efforts to get people to cycle, Northern Ireland is continuing with its trend of inaction. Following a diverse set of commitments, a look into the state of play made by Cycling UK earlier this year revealed that little to no progress has been made, especially in dedicating 10% of the transport budget to cycling, as stipulated by the Northern Ireland Climate Change Act. Considering that cycling casualties have remained at a steadily high level for the last ten years, it is high time Northern Ireland regarded the issue of cycling more seriously.

Renewed commitment to active mobility in Wales and Scotland

While things are looking dire for active mobility in England, its neighbour Wales is picking up the pace on mobility investment: The Welsh Government followed up the announcement of Transport for Wales’s new five-year plan for transport earlier this year with a boost of £58 million in funding in June. Similarly, Scotland has made an additional £20 million available for active travel in June, on top of a commitment to dedicate 10% of its transport budget (£320 million by 2024/25) to active travel.

The dedication of Wales and Scotland to the cause is of course to be welcomed, but it is very unfortunate for the almost 58 million citizens in the rest of the UK that active mobility investment is stagnating in England and Northern Ireland. Our member Cycling UK continues to push for improvement on that front, until cycling is recognised as the clean and healthy mode of transport that it is.