Government

“Why bother about evidence?” Cycling UK responds to Tory MPs’ call to end emergency active travel funding

“So-called War on the Motorist is a myth,” says national cycling charity as it urges opponents of active travel measures to heed experts

30

Oxfordshire County Council leader backs highways chief who endorsed tweet suggesting cyclists should move to the Netherlands

Liam Walker said to be a “strong supporter of active travel”

11

Edinburgh working on emergency infrastructure to protect cyclists at location where rider was killed this week

“Enough is enough” says city’s transport convener following second fatality involving a lorry at same junction in less than two years

9

Parliament to debate Low Traffic Neighbourhoods this afternoon

The biggest thing happening in politics today … well, for active travel in London, maybe ...

11

Government backs Low Traffic Neighbourhoods and cycleways in reply to petition calling for withdrawal of funding

“The majority of people support giving more road space to cycling and walking in their local area,” says DfT

27

Riding two abreast: Sarah Storey calls for Highway Code to be clearer

Cycling campaigners say proposed new wording for Rule 66 only increases ambiguity

28

Ealing Council wins crucial vote on Low Traffic Neighbourhoods at emergency meeting

Meanwhile, poll finds that silent majority across country supports such schemes despite vocal but small opposition

5

Grant Shapps backtracks on cycling and walking pledge

“No one should be in doubt about our support for motorists” says transport secretary

26

Almost everyone who walked or cycled more during lockdown plans to continue to do so

Road safety charity Brake calls on government to accelerate investment in active travel

4

Four in 10 people unaware of government efforts to boost cycling including Fix Your Bike scheme, survey finds

Meanwhile 3 in 10 say protected bike lanes would encourage them to cycle

5

Greater Manchester to get 55 miles of new cycling routes by end of 2021

Andy Burnham and Chris Boardman outline 35 projects to be delivered over the next year

5

London’s latest protected Cycleway now open

3.6km segregated route from Tower Bridge Road to Rotherhithe welcomed by local business owner and cycling campaigners

1

Fix Your Bike: Just 28,000 more vouchers in second release “in the coming months”

Golden Age of Cycling seemingly involves large numbers of people waiting around to get their bikes fixed

1

Transport Secretary tells councils to stop “abusing” emergency active travel funding

Grant Shapps says further funding could be withheld

18

Slow roll-out to bike owners and slower payments to bike shops undermining Fix Your Bike voucher scheme

Slow dawn to the supposed Golden Age of Cycling

o

Bikelash! PM urged to act as fears grow that golden age of cycling could fall victim to govt delay and anti-cycling sentiment

Campaigners say “vocal minority” opposing change as linchpin of Government's cycling strategy is in the administrative slow lane...

16

East Sussex to scrap half of its planned emergency active travel schemes

DfT had awarded county more than its expected funding due to quality of its proposals

14

Mechanic tells road.cc how Fix Your Bike scheme has slowed his workload as people wait for next wave of vouchers

He is also still waiting for money for work carried out under vouchers he submitted for payment three weeks ago

9

Nonsensical ‘cyclists dismount’ coronavirus signs popping up around the country

One council urges cyclists to slow down because of the virus

8

The average cyclist? Male, in his 40s, rides six times a week and 1,000 miles a year

Department for Transport releases its Cycling & Walking statistics for 2019 – the last edition before a coronavirus-led change?

29

Scotland Cycle Repair Scheme launches – with £50 repair and maintenance for free

No voucher required for scheme launched through Scottish government and delivered via Cycling UK

1

Should e-bike speeds be increased? Petition launched to raise assisted speed to 20mph in the UK

The petition calls for UK law on e-bike speeds to be brought in line with the US, where larger motors are permitted that cut out at speeds of 20mph (32kph)

o

Latest figures reveal 98 cyclists were killed on Britain’s roads in 2019

Little change from preceding years although reports suggest we are seeing a rise in fatalities in 2020

1

Fix Your Bike website crashes due to massive demand – but first 50,000 vouchers snapped up in hours

Government initiative went live to public just before midnight but many were left frustrated

6

E-bikes could be a third cheaper thanks to government’s proposed e-bike support programme

Could you get a third off your next e-bike purchase? The government have said they will offer financial incentives to buy e-bikes in their 'Gear Change' document published today, which could mean cheaper e-bikes for all

o

Boris Johnson reveals how he will bring in “new golden age for cycling”

British Cycling's Chris Boardman welcomes government's vision but warns, “the hard yards start now.”

45

Fix Your Bike voucher scheme opens to public tonight – here’s how to get one

Applications set to open for first 50,000 Fix Your Bike vouchers worth £50 each – link to map of 1,239 participating bike shops – Halfords and Evans taking part

46

Further delays to Fix Your Bike voucher scheme launch as government waits for repair backlog to ease

£50 vouchers had initially been expected to be available to public by end of June

4

Government appoints capital’s fomer cycling czar Andrew Gilligan to Transport for London’s board

Appointment made in wake of government bailout and forthcoming review of capital’s transport agency – but battles could lie ahead

1

Cycling’s modal share in Scotland up fivefold during lockdown

Growth comes from small base but there are hopes that increased infrastructure will encourage more people to cycle

2