27 June 2008
We received a petition asking:
“We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to force all local authorities to take the lead on promoting cycling by implementing a Ride 2 Work scheme.”
Details of Petition:
“Cycling is an easy and low-impact activity which can significantly improve individual fitness and which has the potential to have a major impact on public health. It can help to reduce the risk of a range of health problems, notably heart disease and cancer*. One study found that people who cycle to work experienced a 39% lower rate of all-cause mortality compared to those who did not - even after adjustment for other risk factors, including leisure time physical activity*. Local authorities should be taking a lead on promoting cycling, especially to their staff. One way in which they can do this is to implement a ride 2 work (tax exemption) scheme. The average saving on the price of a new bike to the employee is 43%, and the employer saves money too. We believe that the PM should force all local authorities to implement such a scheme within one year of this petition closing. * = adapted from Cavill, N. & Davis, A. (2007). Cycling and Health - What’s the Evidence. London: Cycling England.”
Read the Government’s response
The Government is committed to encouraging increasing in cycling as we view it as a healthy, useful and enjoyable means of travel especially for local journeys. To achieve this we fully realise that we need to create safer conditions for cyclists.
With this in mind Ruth Kelly, the Secretary of State for Transport announced on 21 January a six fold increase in the budget for Cycling England, which complements local authorities spend on cycling. Their budget will double to £20 million next year and then rise to £60 million in both 2009/10 and 2010/11.
This increased funding will bring a number of benefits for cyclists including funding for an extra 500,000 children to have access to the new Bikeability training by 2012; 11 more Cycling Demonstration Towns including a large conurbation to add to the current 6; and an infrastructure programme concentrated on more safe routes to schools which will build on the £18.4m which Sustrans have already helped to deliver. This programme provides safe walking and cycling routes from residential areas to schools via the National Cycle Network.
This funding fulfils a commitment to increase investment in sustainable transport initiatives outlined in the recent strategy document ‘Towards a Sustainable Transport System’. The Department’s plans for future increases in cycling can be viewed in our publication A Sustainable Future for Cycling.
To further support improved conditions for cyclists we have encouraged all local highway authorities in England to develop a cycling strategy as part of their local transport plans (LTPs). Central Government provides funding to local authorities for cycling and pedestrian schemes through the integrated block of the LTP settlement. The integrated block element was worth a record £547million in 2006/07 but it is for local authorities to determine their priorities as to how much they spend on walking and cycling.
The Government has provided tax incentives to encourage cycling to work. We produced detailed guidance to employers in 2005 on how to introduce the bicycle purchase tax exemption scheme where employers purchase bikes and loan them to their staff to cycle to work. Cycling England is now actively promoting the scheme to businesses and employers across the country.
However we have no plans to force local authorities to take part in the scheme, although many have chosen to do so and we hope many more employers both public and private will make the scheme available to their staff in the future.
It is acknowledged that there is still much work to do to bring about increases in cycling, but we believe that considerable progress is being made. Local authorities are clearly a key part of that delivery and we are sure they will continue to support improvements for cyclists within their many other local transport priorities.
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