Yesterday evening (Monday 25 September), Cycling UK and Bricycles organised a rally in favour of the Space for Cycling campaign, outside the Labour Party conference in Brighton.
The rally was attended by roughly forty people campaigning for better cycling infrastructure, as well as Fabian Hamilton MP and Stephen Morgan MP (both Labour members of the All Party Parliamentary Cycling Group), and the Shadow Secretary of State for Transport, Andy McDonald MP.
At the rally, Mr McDonald announced that a Labour government is committed to spending £10 per head on cycling and walking. The £10 per head figure echoes the amount recommended in the Get Britain Cycling Report, produced by the All Party Parliamentary Cycling Group.
Commenting on the announcement, Mr McDonald said:
"Our country is blighted by illegal air pollution, crippling congestion and a public health crisis. Cycling and walking can holistically address all these issues in an efficient, cost-effective way.
"Labour is committed to ensuring that potential is met and is committed to revolutionising our transport system through cycling and walking."
Fabian Hamilton, Labour MP for Leeds North East and Treasurer of the All Party Parliamentary Cycling Group, said:
"As a long standing member of the All Party Parliamentary Cycling Group, I am thrilled to hear our shadow transport secretary pledge £10 per head for cycling and walking if elected. We need a radical shift in our transport system and we are committed to making sure that happens."
Stephen Morgan, Labour MP for Portsmouth South and Honorary Secretary of the All Party Parliamentary Cycling Group, said:
"The Labour Party wants to see cycle use sky rocket, so we can address the many challenges that currently face our transport system. I will continue to work with MPs from across the House to ensure the full potential of Space for Cycling can be met."
Tom Guha, Space for Cycling Campaigner for Cycling UK, said:
“This is a landmark announcement from the Labour Party. Around the country, local political leaders have been doing their best to invest properly in cycling to unlock the many benefits it can bring. However, it is national funding like this that is necessary if we are to see the cycling revolution we so desperately need.”
Becky Reynolds, Campaigns Officer for Bricycles, the Brighton Cycling Campaign, said:
“We are delighted by the support given from conference delegates and of course by the pledge from Labour to raise spending on cycling and walking to £10 per head annually! We are also delighted the ride was attended by councillors from various political parties – demonstrating that cycling has no political colour.”
Photos available on request.
ENDS
Cycling UK Press Office
Email: publicity@cyclinguk.org
Telephone: 0844-736-8453
Cycling UK, the national cycling charity, inspires and helps people to cycle and keep cycling, whatever kind of cycling they do or would like to do. Over a century’s experience tells us that cycling is more than useful transport; it makes you feel good, gives you a sense of freedom and creates a better environment for everyone. www.cyclinguk.org
Bricycles is the Brighton and Hove Cycling Campaign. They are affiliated to Cycling UK and have been campaigning for better cycling infrastructure locally since 1980.
The Get Britain Cycling report, produced by the All Party Parliamentary Cycling Group, recommends that Government should "Create a cycling budget of at least £10 per person per year, increasing to £20".
The All Party Parliamentary Cycling Group is a House of Commons registered All Party Parliamentary Group that aims to to use their role as Parliamentarians to promote all forms of cycling.
Current Department for Transport (DfT) spend on cycling (exc. London) 2010/11- 2014/15 = £1.90. DfT + local spend (exc. both London & Cycle Ambition Cities) = £4.25 (2011/12); £4 (2015/16); iii. DfT + local spend 2015/16, inc. Cycle Ambition Cities and London = £6.70.
Current spend on cycling in London is £17 per head. Current spend on cycling in Cambridge is £13 per head.
The Netherlands spends £24 per head annually on cycling. Denmark spend £17 per head annually on cycling.
For more information on spending on cycling, see page 9 of our national transport policy briefing.
