Cycling to benefit from slashed Government spending?

Heavy Government cuts – to the tune of £6.2 billion – could be to the benefit of cycling, according to Sustrans.

Chancellor of the new coalition Government, George Osborne, laid out his plans to reduce the UK’s deficit yesterday (Monday May 24th). One of the most significant cuts will be made to the Department for Transport, cutting the departmental budget by £683 million – or 4.6 per cent (as reported by the BBC).

The cuts are the perfect opportunity for the DfT to cut back on car-backing spending and invest more efficiently in sustainable travel – including cycling – according to sustainable transport charity Sustrans.

"We hope that the announcement will mean many expensive high-carbon road schemes will be put under the axe,” said Sustrans policy manager Jason Torrance. “The new Office for Budget Responsibility must now grasp the opportunity of wiser investment in smaller, cost-effective walking, cycling and public transport initiatives."

However, the wide reaching cuts will also affect local authorities, the energy and climate change department and the dept for culture, media and sport.