Government announce £338 million travel package to promote cycling and walking across areas such as Milton Keynes

The government is increasing spending to the cycling and walking budget to allow for infrastructure upgrades, changes to the Highway Code and adding new requirements to ensure that the effects of active travel schemes are properly assessed.

This comes after last year saw cycling rise more than in the previous 20 years put together, with the number of miles cycled on British roads rocketing by 45.7% to 5 billion.

Speaking about the recently announced measures, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: "Millions of us have found over the past year how cycling and walking are great ways to stay fit, ease congestion on the roads and do your bit for the environment.

"As we build back greener from the pandemic, we’re determined to keep that trend going by making active travel easier and safer for everyone.

"This £338 million package marks the start of what promises to be a great summer of cycling and walking, enabling more people to make those sustainable travel choices that make our air cleaner and cities greener."

As the UK prepares to host the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) later this year, these initiatives will play a key role in the government’s drive to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

🚴 £338m package to make cycling and walking easier and safer

🌍 Cycling and walking aren't just great for your health but they will also bring environmental benefits https://t.co/uTdxhGMVoc

— Ben Everitt (@Ben_Everitt) July 30, 2021

The £338 million is a 30% increase to the £257 million announced for active travel in last year’s spending review. This funding will help see the construction of hundreds of miles of new high-quality cycle lanes and aid the delivery of new schemes to encourage walking. This will include the delivery of improvements across the National Cycle Network.

Furthermore, to enhance safety for cyclists and pedestrians, a new version of The Highway Code will be published in the autumn, with updates including:

• a hierarchy of road users that ensures road users who can do the greatest harm have the greatest responsibility to reduce the danger they may pose to others
• strengthened pedestrian priority on pavements and when crossing or waiting to cross the road
• guidance on safe passing distances and speeds and ensuring that cyclists have priority at junctions when travelling straight ahead

For more information on the proposed changes to the Highway Code, please click here.