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An all-party group of Parliamentarians will hold an inquiry into the Government’s commitment to cycling in Westminster on Monday afternoon. The two-hour inquiry will take evidence from the Transport Minister Robert Goodwill MP, Olympic gold medalist Chris Boardman as well as cycling organisations and transport experts on recent government proposals outlined in their consultation for the ‘Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy’, which closes on Monday. The inquiry has been called by the All-Party Parliamentary Cycling Group.
The last APPCG inquiry in March 2013 resulted in the ‘Get Britain Cycling’ report with 18 recommendations to improve cycling. This inquiry led to a debate in the House of Commons with over 100 cross-party MPs attending and supporting the recommendations. Following this activity, the Prime Minister announced a ‘cycling revolution’ in August 2013, funding of £10 per head was announced for eight cycling cities in November 2014, and the first Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy was announced as part of the Infrastructure Act in January 2015.
Ruth Cadbury, Labour MP for Brentford and Isleworth, said: “The Cycling and Walking Strategy is a first for Government, so it is to be welcomed and deserves proper scrutiny. Our inquiry will seek to be assured that the Government is able to meet its laudable aim of making cycling “the natural choice for shorter journeys or as part of a longer journey”.
“We will want to establish if the Government’s proposed funding of £300m is enough to meet their targets for greater rates cycling in the UK.
Alex Chalk, the Tory MP for Cheltenham, said: “Last time the All Party Cycling Group held an inquiry it drew significant cross party interest and sparked the beginning of a ‘cycling revolution’.
“This inquiry is to make sure that revolution hasn’t gone flat. We know there is overwhelming cross-party agreement to promote cycling – and we believe that Government should do it all can to promote and support a sustainable form of transport, that relieves congestion, addresses climate change and health issues, whilst at the same time making a valuable contribution to the local economy.”
The evidence session will take place between 1:30pm and 3:30pm on Monday in Committee Room 12 of the House of Commons. A report will be published in early June.
