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Investment in cycling infrastructure would have benefits for public health, Health Minister Anna Soubry told the Get Britain Cycling inquiry earlier today.
She told the inquiry she loved cycling as a child and that her husband bought her a mountain bike for Christmas, and described herself as "wildly enthusiastic" about cycling and said that cycle training and cycling as a sport should be taught in schools: “I see no reason whatsoever that cycling shouldn’t be part of sport in schools. I distinctly remember doing my cycling proficiency and it’s stayed with me for life."
Soubry warned that the perceived risks of cycling are standing in the way of progress, adding that she didn’t let her own children out on the roads due to safety fears. She was the first government minister to speak at the Get Britain Cycling inquiry.
When questioned about the lack of a joined up approach on cycling, Soubry said that she has worked with Transport Minister Norman Baker on cycling initiatives but admitted that Whitehall “needs to show leadership.”
Other witnesses and panel members at the inquiry agreed and said that the key to getting Britain on bikes is true cross-departmental working.
Dr Sarah Wollaston MP said: “We need the education department to work with health and transport as well if we want to form habits for a lifetime.”
Lord Berkeley asked if the Department for Transport can incorporate health benefits as a marker used when appraising a transport scheme.
Summing up the third session, co-chair of the All Party Parliamentary Cycling Group, Ian Austin MP, said:
“The issue that stood out for me today was the need to get departments working together both nationally and at local authority level. It’s obviously good news we’ve got a health minister who say she’s passionate about cycling but we need to make sure her enthusiasm is shared across government so that a cohesive plan can be worked up to get Britain cycling. Without this, we’ll continue to have a piecemeal approach.
"That sentiment needs to be shared across local authorities – we saw some great examples today of what can be achieved.”
The fifth session of the All Party Cycling Group’s Get Britain Cycling inquiry also focused on local authorities and their responsibilities for providing improved road conditions and promoting cycling. Representatives from Transport for Greater Manchester, Leicester City Council and Devon County Council all gave evidence about their experiences of promoting cycling in their areas.
Leicester’s Andy Salkeld was honest about the challenges being faced: “We’ve spent the last 50 years building cities for a car culture. We can’t change that overnight.”
Transport for Greater Manchester’s Dave Newton agreed: “We’re starting from a low point but we are determined to get better.”
The Local Government Association agreed that “political will is vital” and added that “every council should have a cycling champion.”
The Campaign for the Protection of Rural England said that a major barrier is that the majority of planners “don’t ‘get’ cycling.”
The lessons that can be learned from London were also a focus of today’s session. Transport for London’s Ben Plowden said that “strong leadership, partnership working and sustained investment” is key. The London Cycling Campaign’s Tom Bogdanowicz agreed and said that demand for cycling in London is high – 1 in 4 people want to cycle.
Transport for London also talked about the benefits of limiting HGV movements to night hours only throughout London 2012 as a way to reduce the risk of conflicts during rush hour.
APPCG co-chair Julian Huppert MP, said: "It was really good to hear today from local campaigners and local authorities – the people who really do the work on the ground. It makes a world of difference if local authorities are backing cycling in their towns and cities. It was also good to hear the public mealth minister say so clearly that cycling was a healthy thing to do, and that public health benefits from cycling investment. We need joined up thinking at all levels of government if we are to really make progress in promoting cycling. In cities where local authorities are on board, more people are cycling.”
Sustrans’ policy director Jason Torrance added: "Health Minister Soubry’s support and enthusiasm for the benefits of cycling is fantastic and now is the time to put her words into action. More people cycling will save the NHS millions through a more healthy and active population – it’s a no brainer for health officials at all levels across Britain.
"The Minister has rightly called for more collaboration between education, health and transport departments, which must work together if we are to get Britain cycling."
The next session of the Get Britain Cycling inquiry, exploring leadership from government will take place on Monday 4th March. Witnesses will include transport minister Norman Baker MP and Stephen Hammond MP, and journalists Jon Snow and Andrew Gilligan.
