Will Active Travel Flourish Under a Labour Government?
Surprisingly, active transport only receives a brief mention in The 2024 Labour Party manifesto, which outlines various plans and pledges, only some of which have implications for cycling infrastructure and adoption in the UK.
Key Policies and Investments
Road Maintenance and Safety: Labour intends to maintain and renew the road network to serve drivers, cyclists, and other road users. This includes a promise to repair one million potholes across England annually, which could significantly enhance road cycling safety.
Critical Analysis: While addressing potholes is essential for cyclist safety, the manifesto lacks detailed plans for new cycling infrastructure such as dedicated bike lanes or protected intersections. The effectiveness of these measures will depend on consistent implementation and prioritizing areas with high cyclist traffic.
Funding Reallocation: Labour plans to finance road maintenance projects, including pothole repairs, by deferring the A27 bypass, which they consider poor value for money.
Critical Analysis: Redirecting funds from large road projects to maintenance can improve existing infrastructure, but it may face opposition from regions expecting those bypasses. Additionally, it remains to be seen if the reallocated funds will sufficiently cover the extensive road repair needs.
Rail Freight Promotion: The manifesto mentions promoting and expanding rail freight to reduce the number of heavy trucks and lorries on the road, which pose significant risks to cyclists.
Critical Analysis: Shifting freight from road to rail can enhance cyclist safety by reducing heavy vehicle traffic. However, this initiative requires substantial investment in rail infrastructure and effective policies to incentivize businesses to use rail freight.
Access to Nature: Labour aims to improve access to nature, which may enhance access to cycling routes in natural settings.
Critical Analysis: While improving access to nature is a positive step, the manifesto lacks specifics on how this will be achieved or funded. Clear strategies and commitments are needed to ensure these improvements benefit cyclists.
Physical Education and Grassroots Sports: Labour emphasizes protecting time for physical education in schools and supporting grassroots sports clubs, potentially including cycling clubs.
Critical Analysis: Promoting physical activity in schools and supporting sports clubs can foster a cycling culture from a young age. However, the success of these initiatives will depend on the extent of support and resources provided to cycling programs specifically.
Environmental and Economic Context
Labour's environmental commitments, such as phasing out internal combustion engine cars by 2030, could improve air quality, benefiting cyclists and other road users. However, Labour faces significant economic challenges inherited from the previous government, which could impact funding availability for active travel initiatives.
Critical Analysis: The manifesto recognizes the importance of environmental sustainability but lacks specific funding commitments for cycling infrastructure. Balancing economic constraints with the need for significant investment in active travel will be a critical challenge for Labour.
Conclusion
Labour’s 2024 manifesto outlines several initiatives that could impact cycling infrastructure and adoption, including road maintenance, funding reallocation, rail freight promotion, and improving access to nature. However, the manifesto lacks detailed, specific commitments to new cycling infrastructure and clear funding strategies. There’s a lot of work then for Hudjo Bicycle Parking and other regional and national active travel initiatives to do. Let’s get building.
