It looks like the cycling argument is being won nationally. Everyone has been rather more pro cycling recently, but you know what, show me the money. You can't change behaviour or give people more choices without investing some of everyone's hard earned and it looks like that is about to start happening in a more structured way.
Last night an amendment to the infrastructure bill in parliament was passed. This obliges Government to set budgets for sustainable transport nationally. Now we have no guarantee of funding for projects as a result of this, but at least we are arguing about the size of the cake now, not whether or not there should be a cake at all.
Andrew Jones Mp had this to say to me and you
Hello Dave,
Thank you for contacting me on Twitter regarding the cycling and walking amendment to the Infrastructure Bill. Twitter is a wonderful thing, but I do often find it hard to fit a proper reply into 140 characters!
You will be pleased to know that the amendment, tabled by the Secretary of State for Transport, which commits the Government to set out objectives for cycling and walking infrastructure and the funding to meet these objectives was passed last evening.
I was pleased to support this amendment and it was reassuring that it included a commitment to funding as well as to strategy.
You will know that Rebecca Burnett, in her Cabinet Member role, is working to push forward the issue on a local level and I have offered her any support she needs to make progress.
I know you are a regular blogger and tweeter so please do feel free to share the good news about this commitment from Government with your contacts.
I hope this email finds you well.
Kind regards
Andrew
So this is not the end of cycle campaigning, but I do think it represents government finally taking the needs of all road users seriously.
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