A charity has slammed what it terms “a shocking lack of progress” by the government in getting more people walking and cycling in England after official figures released this week revealed among other things a decline in cycling traffic levels between March 2021 and December 2023.
The IPPR underlined that where progress was being made in increasing levels of physical activity, it tended to be “only in the places that were already doing well – while the West Midlands and the North East have seen barely any change in the numbers of active people in the last seven years. “Mid-year estimates from the National Travel Survey for the year ending June 2023 show that the distance travelled per person by walking or wheeling has barely changed for a decade and the total number of trips people take on foot has dropped over the same period,” it said.
The target of doubling levels of cycling in England outside London were outlined in the 2020 document Gear Change as then Prime Minister Boris Johnson heralded a “new golden age of cycling,” and subsequently the government set up Active Travel England to spearhead growth in cycling, wheeling and walking, with Chis Boardman appointed the country’s first national active travel commissioner.
The IPPR, meanwhile, concluded its commentary on this week’s figures by underlining the wider benefits that encouraging active travel can bri9ng. If you don’t want to subscribe, please turn your ad blocker off. The revenue from adverts helps to fund our site.