Sixteen organisations are calling on the PM to set a national mode shift target, invest in buses, rail and active travel to give people affordable alternatives to driving, and reduce reliance on volatile fuel prices.
In an open letter to the Prime Minister, they reference the fact that due to the war in Iran, global fuel supplies have been disrupted, driving up costs and placing unsustainable pressure on households.
They say that to “reduce the UK’s vulnerability to volatile global energy markets is to cut reliance on fossil fuels”, and that “transport is central to this challenge”.
People struggling with the cost of fuel NEED better alternatives.
We’ve written to the PM – along with 16 other groups working in transport – calling for urgent action to give UK households long-term protection against volatile fuel costs.
Here’s what we’re calling for:
— Campaign for Better Transport (@bettertransport.bsky.social) 22 May 2026 at 10:32
As well as highlighting the importance of the electrification of road transport, the letter calls for sustainable transport, such as public transport, walking, wheeling and cycling as a more efficient alternative.
The letter states that “investment in walking, wheeling and cycling is one of the most cost-effective ways to cut household transport costs, improve public health and reduce network pressure.”
It encourages the development of mobility hubs where active travel networks intersect with public transport, to integrate shared mobility, seating and green space. It also mentions car clubs, shared e-bikes and e-cargo bikes.
Sarah Whitebread, the head of policy and public affairs at Cycling UK, said: “Communities across the UK deserve real transport choice for everyday journeys. That’s especially true when energy and fuel prices spike. It’s the difference between people staying mobile or being priced out.
“With ongoing crises that put a strain on household and government finances, we must provide real alternatives to car journeys that include cycling, walking and public transport so people retain their freedom to get around when times are tough.”
We’ve joined @bettertransport and 15 others in calling on the Prime Minister to invest in cycling, walking, wheeling & public transport, giving people affordable alternatives to driving and reducing reliance on volatile fuel prices.
Open letter 👇
— Cycling UK Official (@cyclinguk.bsky.social) 22 May 2026 at 11:44
As well as promoting active travel, the letter asks for better buses, the acceleration of the electrification of public transport and stronger support of international rail.
The letter asks for a mode shift, setting a target to complement the Getting Britain Moving commitment made when in opposition.
It states that “setting such a target to complement Better Connected would increase the share of journeys made by public transport, walking, wheeling and cycling, alongside a managed transition to electric vehicles for trips that still require a car.”
The letter calls for a target agreed at cabinet level to ensure efficient public spending and allow local leaders to plan and deliver integrated transport systems.
As well as the letter being signed by Ben Plowden, the CEO of Campaign for Better Transport, it was signed by 16 other organisations. These include Cycling UK, Clean Cities, Living Streets and Transport Action Network.
6 thoughts on ““The UK deserves real transport choice for everyday journeys”: 16 organisations call PM to invest in active travel to combat rising fuel prices”
This sounds very pessimistic – but it ain’t gonna happen. England is heading towards a Reform government (at best a hung parliament with a possible Green, Lib, Labour coalition) The Right only seem to have a very narrow agenda; bash on Muslims, wave flags, Israel First, blame immigrants, (even though migration is down and the UK left the EU)
There may remain pockets of active travel like London, Oxford, Bristol. But a national strategy? No chance. As for encouraging international train travel, there is only 1 high speed rail line in the WHOLE of the UK (Eurostar) and that is at full capacity. How can people be encouraged to use facilities that are inadequate? At the weekend, emergency measures had to be applied to suspend brexit checks at Dover because the queues were so long and the temperature so high. Obviously you can’t blame brexthick for the temperature but did no one warn the English that brexthick would take away their freedom of movement and not that of their fellow citizens in the EU? We kept our freedom of movement. Anyway, I digress, but Dover is symptomatic of the poor travel infrastructure in the UK. There have been huge improvements in cycle infrastructure in London. (And other places I am sure) But the important thing to note is that not all of London has seen an improvement. Most has not, because London is made up of 33 local authorities, most of which are openly hostile towards active travel. So if you can’t achieve a pan London active travel network – then how can you achieve a pan UK network? There is no political will in the UK for such a thing.
@Rome73
The next general election is still, potentially, more than three years away. Three years in which Reform’s essential incompetence and lack of policies beyond let’s thump the weakest will be thoroughly exposed in the councils they now control and NF’s astonishing levels of grift and corruption will be brought more and more to public attention. It’s also three years during which Labour will have a chance to regroup under a new leader. Although it’s quite correct to be concerned, it’s absolutely not nailed on in any way. Let’s not forget that under Theresa May in May 2019 the Tories were on 19% in the polls, only one point up on NF’s Brexit Party and eight down on Labour (the same amount Labour are currently down on Reform). yet by the end of that year the Tories had changed leader and won a landslide election result with the Brexit Party taking just 2% of the vote. A week is a long time in politics; three years is a lifetime. Nil desperandum!
(Tory turnaround) … which was achieved by a chancer * stealing many of the clothes of the Brexit party!
* Boris of course, apparently someone with little long-term vision (except for promoting Boris) … and also unexpectedly one of the greatest deliverers when it came to active travel among major politicians! (Interestingly Burnam has also made efforts; I’d say Sadiq Khan trails both, although in the big metro areas it’s clearly hard to get stuff done because boroughs / councils have their own ideas).
I always have *hope* for better travel solutions * / nicer places. With population growth and urbanisation the cost and negatives of mass motoring as practiced become ever more evident.
… BUT motoring still offers massive benefits to *individuals* – including to those seeking political power. Plus it’s the “default” – and now tied into society’s view of status / our own agency.
Not surprising that the system should be self-reinforcing given the vast investments made over a century of fixing it so driving is the logical choice.
We won’t change before there *are* good alternatives to motoring. But there will only be real change when motoring also becomes even less convenient / attractive (and more expensive). This has to be done deliberately (as they have in NL, Paris etc).
… which (aside from the immediate othering of people who step out of the herd) means it’s fruitful to decry these measures not just as “change” but as theft (of “your” space and via tax). That’s even more salient when people don’t see a “vision” they buy into and believe they are put-upon / being impoverished.
Reform are ideologically happy to go there (plus they have financial backers who are at least partial to that position). But with increased political competition it’s also possible to imagine a Polansky finding ways to sell “traffic in towns”. (Remember Labour and Conservatives both competing to be “the party of drivers” / on the side of the motorist?)
* Cycling always has an important role due to it having so many positive features / efficiencies and so few negatives.
@Rendel Harris finally: noting that nothing bad seems to stick to Nige and noting how people bought into Trump’s “outsider” and “honest plain-spoken” shtick (quite bizarrely, sometimes)
… plus the fact that Reform have now got some politicians with actual experience (a chunk of the Conservative Party – albeit all the “traitors”!)
… and the breaking of what seemed to be a prior taboo against going much outside either Labour or the Conservatives
… I could well believe Reform roll in by default next time simply because people are unhappy and want to give “them” a kicking, or have such low belief in the current system “it’s a change, why not”. All that helped by the costs from the Maga movement’s realignment of the US and Trump’s “chaos by design” strategy.
@Rome73 I wouldn’t be too sure of Reform getting in just yet. It’s still 3 years before any election, and a lot can happen in 3 years. Farage did well at local level, but he didn’t win the 2 big prizes, Scotland and Wales. It has been suggested that Reform have peaked too soon, and I suspect they have.
The last 3 months have clearly made a lot of people rethink their attitude towards renewable energy and active travel in particular. The recent YouGov survey which showed a marked increase in cycling shows this. Our office bike stands have been full or nearly full most days despite the weather.
Scotland and Wales are now run by administrations that are fully committed to sustainable living. The support of Green members in both parliaments will be needed if Tory/Reformers try to block any legislation. Greens also have a significant presence in local government where their support will also be needed. This can only be a good thing for active travel. I’d say the future looks bright for cycling in the UK.