http://www.bikebiz.com/news/read/prime-minister-to-unveil-new-funding-for-cycling/015226
Presume only England(?)
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Cycling News
"Prime Minister to unveil new funding for cycling"
(23 posts)-
Posted 11 years ago #
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If it's only England would Sir Chris be supporting it?
Posted 11 years ago # -
I believe he cycled for Team GB and is British so can also do Englandshire. And since transport in Scotland is devolved they'd have no business announcing anything for Scotland. If it's new money there may be consequential new money for Scotland though.
Posted 11 years ago # -
"
The Government’s £94 million will make people feel more confident getting on their bikes"
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/opinion/columnists/article3840106.ece
Posted 11 years ago # -
"
Cycling revolution shifts into top gear"
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/cyclesafety/article3840260.ece
Posted 11 years ago # -
Posted 11 years ago #
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I wonder if our FM is going to take note.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Yes, but probably not enough to do anything!
It's possible there will be a small amount of 'Barnet Formula consequentials' cash.
Posted 11 years ago # -
In recent weeks Cameron and Johnson have been doing an excellent job of positioning the Tories as the true champions of cycling. By contrast Socialist Scotland seems to be languishing in the Dark Ages.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Interesting observation, though it's far from clear how much there is a party/political reason.
It's ironic of course that the Boris Bikes were begun by Ken. He did a lot for cycling and public transport when the former certainly wasn't 'popular' even in London.
Ken of course doesn't cycle - 'problem of balance' (no really!!)
Various Tory personalities have cycled -
Quintin Hogg on deluxe. by kenbutterfield, on FlickrSir George Young -
And, of course Andrew Michell!
On the Labour side there's Dennis Skinner, "I was cycling until I was 68" and "No trousers! Ben Bradshaw"
That of course is in Londonshire where it's is cheaper to build new cycle infrastructure than a new tube line (but they are doing that anyway!)
Up here politicians in all parties ride bikes (not just for photo opportunities).
The most high profile "cyclists" was Sarah Boyack who as transport minister was proposing things like taxing workplace and supermarket car parking.
She was once on the cover of the Daily Record on a bike (it wasn't a 'fluffy' story) and Jack McConnell (I believe) told her to stop cycling. Didn't last in that job long.
John Swinney is an occasional leisure cyclist (rural Perthshire), Alex and Nicola (probably not), Keith Brown obviously prefers other means of transport.
Alison Johnstone cycles around a lot. Kezia Dugdale bought a bike after her tandem ride for PoP and has been exploring cycle paths.
Posted 11 years ago # -
£94m as a one-off over 2.5 years (to be spent by 2015 according to bike biz article). I make that £37m per annum.
As usual, there is so much govt spin, it's impossible to tell how much is really being spent. Some papers are quoting £77m, some £94, some £160m...
Nobody knows...?
Posted 11 years ago # -
Good piece on World at One (12/08/2013 AVAILABILITY:7 DAYS LEFT TO LISTEN Duration: 45 minutes http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0383k8h - at about 30 mins)
Started with Martha Kearney cycling to work.
Minister suggested he only cycled in National Parks these days, but sounded enthusiastic, positive and forward looking.
That's what we need in Scotland!!
Said things like 'lots to catch up on, but this is a start'.
No mention of NWC...
Posted 11 years ago # -
"
Dear
Funding announced by central Government today could provide the much needed investment for a cycling revolution in cities and national parks across England.
This is fantastic news for those living in the areas that benefit from the funding: it now needs to spread to every part of the UK, so that we can tackle the current reality of just one in fifty local trips being made by bike.
As MPs continue their break from the UK Parliament I hope you will join me in writing to your local MP, urging them to attend the Get Britain Cycling debate in Parliament on 2 September that will seek support from MPs for recommendations made in the Get Britain Cycling report.
Cycling has been on the verge of receiving the necessary support from government before – let’s make sure this opportunity is taken, and travel by bike becomes the common-sense choice that it should be.
Thanks for your support,
Malcolm Shepherd, Sustrans"
MY boldNo mention of NWC
Posted 11 years ago # -
Cycling embassy take on the money
http://www.cycling-embassy.org.uk/news/2013/08/11/another-record-announcement
Posted 11 years ago # -
"it's far from clear how much there is a party/political reason"
Seems pretty clear to me - Tory England is heavily promoting cycling, Socialist Scotland isn't. Doesn't bode well if Yes wins.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Norman Tebbit certainly promoted cycling during the last major recession.
When did Scotland become Socialist, I missed that?
Posted 11 years ago # -
"
Dear ,£148m for cycling - thanks to your pressure
As you may have heard or seen in the news today, David Cameron has given his backing to plans to galvanise a “cycling revolution”. I’m sure you will agree that this is a huge break-through for cycling, and one that CTC has worked long and hard for.
Thousands wrote to their MPs asking them to support the 'Get Britain Cycling' call. Tens of thousands of cyclists signed the Number 10 petition, while CTC’s President Jon Snow has repeatedly called for “leadership" from No 10. David Cameron has now shown it.
Now we need our MPs to attend a debate on the first day Parliament returns (2nd September), welcoming this funding, and asking that it be rolled out to all towns and cities. Please write to your MP asking them to take part in the debate.
The Government describes today’s announcement as “the biggest ever single injection of cash” for cycling. The £148m of funding announced today includes a previously announced £42m, £54m of new Government money and £45m of local matched funding from local authorities. This will provide annual spending of around £10 per head over 2 years for the populations of 8 cities and visitors to 4 national parks.Cycle-proofing the major road network
The Prime Minister also called on councils to design in high standards of cycle-friendliness to all future highway and traffic schemes, while outlining plans to improve cycle access along and across trunk and motorway corridors, both by investing to tackle existing barriers to cycle movement and by “cycle-proofing” all future national highway schemes. He also announced a cycle-friendly schools competition, and a feasibility study for improved provision (including links to local stations) along the corridor of the High Speed 2 (HS2) rail link.
£10 per head on cycling, for everyone
Today’s funding announcement is only a start; a lot more will ultimately be needed to ‘Get the whole of Britain Cycling.’ Their announcement does however recognise the importance of spending at least £10 per head annually on cycling. It’s now up to us to push for funding settlements to be ramped up to reach this level throughout the UK.
The good news is that we already have two forthcoming opportunities to do this. For one, the Government is promising to draw up a cross-departmental Action Plan for cycling by December.Get your MP to speak up for cycling
More immediately though, we all need to persuade our MPs to speak up for cycling in Parliament in September, calling for new cycle-friendly design standards, for the positive promotion of cycling and above all for the funding needed to make ‘Cycletopia’ a reality throughout the land.
CTC has created a template email which is ready-made for sending to your MP – or you can customise it if you wish to. Please urge him or her to be in the Commons on Sept 2nd – it’s Parliament’s first day back after the summer break, so it’s vital to get the message through.Even though this funding is restricted to England, the objectives of spending £10 per head, per year and "cycle-proofing" major roads are required for the whole of the UK.
Please ask your MP to join the debate and show the level of political support for cycling.
Thank you in anticipation for your support.
Yours,
Professor David Cox OBE
CTC Chair"
Posted 11 years ago # -
Ah, so it's actually only £54m of new money, and over 2.5 years.
Amounts to barely £1 per head and is 30 times less than what the Netherlands spend continuously...
More crumbs anyone...?
Posted 11 years ago # -
To be 'fair' to Gov it's nearer £10 in the places that are getting the money.
BUT
"
Shadow transport secretary Maria Eagle said: “No amount of cynical spin from David Cameron will make up for the fact that, immediately on taking office, he axed Cycle England, the Cycle Demonstration Towns scheme and the annual £60m budget to support cycling that he inherited.“Since then he has axed targets to reduce deaths and serious injuries on our roads, reduced traffic enforcement, cut the THINK! awareness campaign and allowed longer HGVs.
“Only last month the Prime Minister set out plans for Britain’s roads that failed to include a single commitment to the investment in separated cycling infrastructure that is the best way to boost cycling and make it safer.
“Tragically the number of cyclist deaths are now at a five-year high, reversing the progress that was starting to be made, and reports of new casualties are becoming a weekly occurrence.
“Labour would support cycling and make it safer for cyclists by using the existing roads budget to deliver long term support for separated safe cycling routes and safer junctions, introduce a new Cycling Safety Assessment for new transport schemes, restore national targets and introduce tough new rules on HGVs.”
"
Posted 11 years ago # -
Briefing on the Governments Ambition for Cycling.
I'm yet to read it but someone on Twitter said this is in it somewhere:
'First time I've seen UK government commit that segregated bike ways = 'reduce congestion & conflict' for motorists'
Posted 11 years ago # -
Prompted a favourable report on this evening's One Show, interview with John Grimshaw and lots of favourable comments about cycling. Pity none of it is happening up here.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Just had a response from my MP.
1) No Barnett Consequentials on this one - it's existing Transport money.
2) The extra £94m is £40m from the central transport budget, and £54m from local authorities (my MP's figures), compared with £60m p.a. from central Cycling England funding when it was axed three years ago.
There's been the suggestion online that the government had this announcement to take the heat out of the cycling debate arising from the "Get Britain Cycling" report.
Get your MP to this debate on 2nd September and get them to savage the government for this slight of hand...
Robert
Posted 11 years ago #
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