Half Of All Urban Journeys Must Be Cycled Or Walked Within Ten Years, Confirms U.K. Government

Half Of All Urban Journeys Must Be Cycled Or Walked Within Ten Years, Confirms U.K. Government

"We want half of all journeys and towns and cities to be cycled or walked by 2030,“ Transport Secretary Grant Shapps told the U.K. parliament's transport committee in a remotely held meeting earlier today.

Yesterday the under Secretary of State Rachel Maclean said similar in a written answer, claiming the government had a "vision for half of all journeys in towns and cities to be cycled or walked by 2030.“

At the launch of the government's Gear Change strategy, fronted in July last year by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, this goal was among many in the "revolutionary“ £2 billion plan to increase cycling and walking.

"We want to see a future where half of all journeys in towns and cities are cycled or walked,“ said the plan, with everyday transportation cyclist Johnson promising to "kick off the most radical change to our cities since the arrival of mass motoring.“

Meanwhile, as the government is pressing ahead with its £27 billion road building program many active-travel advocates have expressed doubts that car use will be reduced.

University of Bath environmental psychologist Dr. Ian Walker said on Twitter that the "target will never be achieved unless government is prepared to tell people to drive less.“

Transport Secretary Shapps