More than fifty leading organisations in transport and public health have issued a direct plea to the UK's Transport Secretary, calling for the government to establish specific, measurable targets for walking and cycling in England.
A Unified Call for Measurable Action
In a letter addressed to Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander, a coalition including British Cycling, Cycling UK, the National Trust, and the British Medical Association has warned that current proposals are too vague. They argue that the government's third cycling and walking investment strategy (CWIS3) must evolve from well-meaning intentions into a concrete, long-term national plan.
The groups highlight a significant disparity in how transport modes are treated. While road and rail projects benefit from established, multi-decade funding frameworks and clear objectives, they claim active travel—which accounts for a third of all trips—is often subject to a short-term and piecemeal approach.
Key Demands for the 2030 Strategy
The letter sets out clear expectations for the CWIS3, which covers the period up to 2030. The signatories insist active travel must be placed on an equal strategic footing with roads and rail. Their primary demand is for a measurable target: that 50% of all trips under five miles in towns and cities should be made by walking, wheeling, or cycling by 2030.
They criticise the strategy's current proposed objectives, such as "ensuring people are safe to travel actively," for being open to interpretation and not measurable. The coalition calls for a system of long-term targets with interim reviews, mirroring the predictable five-year cycles used for other transport modes. This, they argue, would give local authorities the confidence to plan comprehensive networks and attract private investment.
Concerns Over Momentum and a National Network
While the letter is framed constructively, some in the active travel sector have expressed concern that momentum is being lost under the current Department for Transport (DfT) leadership, compared to the tenure of previous secretary Louise Haigh.
Xavier Brice, chief executive of the Walk Wheel Cycle Trust—a signatory to the letter—stated that CWIS3 was meant to create a long-term framework but has never quite lived up to this promise. He warned that without clear targets, even the existing goal for active travel to be a safe, easy option for everyone by 2035 is unachievable under the current proposals.
The coalition also advocates for a national strategy for active travel networks. They stress that while routes should be designed locally, they must connect coherently to form a consistent and accessible UK-wide network, linking key destinations like stations, hospitals, and schools.
A DfT spokesperson responded, stating: "We have committed £616m to Active Travel England up to 2030 so that local authorities can deliver walking and cycling infrastructure across the country, with the aim that by 2035 walking, wheeling and cycling is easy, safe, and accessible for everyone. We have just launched a consultation on how we can achieve this, and we encourage stakeholders and the public to have their say."
