The public’s growing enthusiasm for walking and cycling around UK towns and cities must be supported and encouraged as the country emerges from Covid-19 lockdowns, a minister has said. The transport minister Chris Heaton-Harris said there was huge interest in “active travel” in the UK and called on people to walk and cycle wherever possible. “This year has been one like no other, changing the way we travel whether it be for work or leisure … We do need to make sure we keep people’s newfound love for walking and cycling,” he said. Speaking at an online conference organised by the Living Streets charity on Thursday, Heaton-Harris pointed to the government’s £2bn funding for walking and cycling announced last year – with £200m already allocated to local authorities – as proof of its commitment. He said that despite vocal opposition to some schemes, the majority of residents backed proposals such as low-traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) and improved cycle lanes and walkways, with two-thirds of respondents to a government-commissioned survey in support of road space being given over to walking and cycling. “We need to take people with us on this journey, but we know the majority support the improvements to their local communities,” he said. There has been a huge increase in cycling and walking provision during the pandemic, with hundreds of miles of new cycleways built, pavements improved and LTNs introduced across the UK, as well as around the world. The former MP Mary Creagh, who is now the chief executive of Living Streets, told the conference she was determined that the “silent majority in favour of low-traffic neighbourhoods would be heard loud and clear”. She said that when safe space was created for walking and cycling, “you tackle obesity, inactivity, air pollution, climate change and congestion all at the same time.” But she said too often the broad public support for the measures was overshadowed by more vocal opponents. Creagh said it was crucial that a special effort was made to listen to people who were excluded from the conversation, who were often older and not online, as well as children and young adults. She said that as well as improving air quality and health, walking and cycling were an essential element of tackling the climate crisis by reducing transport emissions. And she said one of the most important issues was the UK school run which, according to Living Streets research, produces the same amount of carbon emissions as Greenland each year.
That message was backed by Heaton-Harris, who said that a generation ago 70% of children walked to school, but this had dropped to around 50%. “There is huge potential to increase the proportion of children walking to school,” he said. The conference was the second this week to examine the impact of Covid-19 on the way people move around towns and cities in the UK. On Tuesday the Academy of Ideas held an event titled “From cycle lanes to low-traffic neighbourhoods: who owns our streets?” On Wednesday Kensington and Chelsea council put off reinstating a popular bike lane in Kensington High Street despite a poll finding that a majority of residents backed it. It will instead consider a “feasibility study for travel options in the longer term”.