Boris Johnson’s vision to “unleash a nation of cyclists” seems to be stuttering with new annual figures displaying the variety of cycle journeys made per individual in England has been stagnant regardless of main work going down.
The previous prime minister pledged hundreds of miles of latest protected cycle lanes, coaching for adults and youngsters and bikes on prescriptions as a part of a whirlwind announcement for £2bn of funding for biking and strolling in the summertime of 2020.
As head of a earlier authorities, Mr Johnson additionally set an bold goal for half of journeys in cities and cities to be walked by 2030.
Nonetheless, funding for the organisation set as much as management the biking funds – Energetic Journey England – was cut by two thirds in 2023.
And regardless of ranges of strolling rising, in keeping with new figures launched by the Division for Transport, the typical variety of bike journeys per individual has remained stagnant since a peak on the top of the Covid pandemic in 2020.
In 2019, individuals made 16 bike journeys, together with e-bikes, in keeping with the transport survey of 16,000 people. That elevated to twenty in 2020, however then fell again to pre-pandemic ranges with 15 within the years 2021, 2022 and 2023.
Newest knowledge for the 12 months ending June 2024 confirmed individuals made 15 bike journeys, down barely from 16 within the 12 months ending June 2023.
In the meantime, strolling journeys per 12 months elevated from 250 in 2019 to 263 in 2023. Newest knowledge for the 12 months ending June 2024 suggests an extra rise with 267 in comparison with 261 within the 12 months ending June 2023.
The common variety of automobile journeys rose to 364 within the 12 months ending June 2024, from 346 within the 12 months ending June 2023 – nonetheless, this was down from 380 in 2019.
The DfT has highlighted that the whole variety of journeys throughout all modes of transport has fallen since 2019 – nonetheless, some within the bicycle business say extra must be completed to encourage extra individuals to trip.
Sarah McMonagle, director of exterior affairs at Biking UK, mentioned councils weren’t getting sufficient sustained central authorities funding to construct biking networks.
“That’s why we frequently see a patchwork of cycle routes reasonably than a holistic community,” she mentioned.
In addition to elevated funding, the charity has just lately revealed a gender hole in biking with it claiming only a third of biking journeys are completed by ladies, with security a significant component.
“If we’re critical about offering more healthy, extra sustainable journey choices, then we have to spend money on secure, accessible cycle networks,” mentioned Ms McMonagle.
The excessive variety of biking journeys made in 2020 mirror individuals’s life throughout Covid, mentioned Kiron Chatterjee, professor of journey behaviour on the College of West of England. Newest figures on biking may be impacted by fewer individuals now commuting because of the introduction of versatile working post-pandemic, he added.
However he mentioned: “It [the data] confirms the image now we have seen since Covid that biking journeys have reverted again to pre-pandemic ranges and the progress that has been wished for to help any rise isn’t on monitor in the meanwhile.”
The shortage of elevated bicycle rides is mirrored in gross sales knowledge. In March, the Bicycle Affiliation said sales of bikes within the UK fell 2 per cent final 12 months, in comparison with 2023.
Simon Irons, knowledge and insights director, mentioned: “The continued decline in children’ biking participation and children’ bike gross sales is especially regarding, given these are our cyclists of the long run.”
Energetic Journey England’s commissioner Chris Boardman informed MPs on a transport committee in January that the largest barrier confronted was cyclists’ worry for security, significantly for ladies.
He mentioned regardless of success in overseeing greater than £500m in funding and coaching hundreds of council officers, the goal for strolling and driving bikes for 2030 was trying more and more difficult because of the modifications in funding.
He mentioned: “It has made it extraordinarily laborious to hit these targets, and there must be some vital modifications in coverage or funding to have the ability to meet it by 2030.
“We nonetheless have a large pipeline of schemes with native authorities. They nonetheless have their community plans. We’ve simply slowed proper down on the supply with out the dedication to ship it—the dedication in consistency and the funding itself.”
A month later, in February, the federal government announced 300 miles of latest walkways and cycle methods could be created with £300 in new funding by means of Energetic Journey England.
A Division for Transport spokesperson mentioned: “Biking didn’t lower between the tip of 2023 and June 2024, with biking distance going up by 9 per cent. Strolling journeys and strolling distance have each gone up considerably from pre-pandemic ranges, whereas automobile journeys are down greater than 4 per cent in comparison with 2019.
“We need to give extra individuals the liberty, alternative, and option to cycle, wheel and stroll wherever, and that’s why we’re investing almost £300m to construct as much as 300 miles of latest cycle tracks and footways.”
An Energetic Journey England spokesperson mentioned the physique would proceed its work with native authorities to assist them make strolling, wheeling and biking a secure and enticing alternative for on a regular basis journeys.
They mentioned: “Strolling and wheeling, underpins all journeys, significantly for public transport and the rise recognized in these statistics is nice information and simply the beginning. Lots of the schemes now we have funded are nonetheless being constructed and we all know that secure and prime quality infrastructure is used extra by all types of individuals.”
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