Local MP Steve Brine has praised a landmark report on the future of cycling in Britain launched this week in Parliament.
The report, from the All-Party Parliamentary Cycling Group of which Mr Brine is vice-chair, says one in ten journeys should be made by bike and calls for a national cycling champion to be appointed by the Prime Minister.
The Get Britain Cycling proposals follow a major parliamentary inquiry held over the past two months which heard from over 100 individuals and organisations, including cycling organisations, the Automobile Association, and a wide range of government departments and Ministers.
To support the increase in cycle journeys it calls for:
1) More 20mph speed limits in urban areas and lower speed limits on many rural roads
2) All children to be given the chance to learn the skills of road cycling, at primary and secondary school
3) Government funding on cycling to be £10 per head of the population, from the existing transport budget
It is both possible and necessary to expand the role of cycling in the nation's transport and social life, says the MP. This will lead to benefits in reduced congestion and healthier citizens. The aim is increase cycle use from less than 2 per cent of journeys in 2011, to 10 per cent of all journeys in 2025, and 25 per cent by 2050. For this to happen, leadership is needed right from the top, the group concludes.
Key recommendations include:
1) More of the transport budget should be spent on supporting cycling, at a rate initially set at £10 per person per year, and increasing as cycling levels increase
2) Cycling should be considered at an earlier stage in all planning decisions, whether transport schemes or new houses or businesses
3) More use should be made of segregated cycle lanes, learning from the Dutch experience
4) Urban speed limits should generally be reduced to 20 mph where local support is present
5) Just as children learn to swim at school they should learn to ride a bike
6) The government should produce a detailed cross-departmental Cycling Action Plan, with annual progress reports
Steve Brine says; "Cycling has huge advantages – it is fast, safe, healthy, efficient, reliable, environmentally sound, and fun. One of the most consistent points made to us in preparing this report was that lower speed limits reduce the number and severity of collisions for both pedestrians and cyclists so the review currently underway from Hampshire County Council is very welcome in this respect and we should proceed where there is local support.
"I would also highlight the need for continued cycle training for school-children and our call for more segregated cycle lanes which need designing in at a much earlier stage in planning decisions. So while I am disappointed planned changes to Junction 9 of the M3 this Summer are not more cycle-friendly we cannot let this drop and I would stress we have the chance through the Barton Farm Forum to see we get it right on this development from the very start. I will be sending a copy of our report to CALA Homes and local councillors."
Mr Brine said progress in Winchester has been marked this year and praised the Cycle Fest events planned this Summer by the City Council and the appointment of Cllr Mike Southgate as the local Cycle Champion: "The excitement of the Olympics and Tour de France last year meant cycling captured the public imagination and I really believe it is ready to grow. What we need now is local and national leadership."
Pictured; Chris Boardman, Julian Huppert MP, Sarah Wollaston MP, Ian Austin MP and Steve Brine MP – the all-party group team - in Parliament Square, and Steve with Chris Boardman at the report launch inside Parliament on Wednesday 24th April 2013
More information...
You can read much more about Steve's work in this area as well as the local Summer of cycling via www.stevebrine.com/cycling OR download the report directly.
More information on the All-Party Cycling Group can be found at www.allpartycycling.org