Active travel goals may be in jeopardy as recent report released by the National Audit Office (NAO) has shown that the government is “not on track” to reach their active travel goals. The government had made a commitment to boost the number of children receiving cycling training.
In 2020, the Department of Transport (DfT) published Gear Change: A bold vision for cycling and walking. The aim was to increase cycling and cycle training by promoting confidence and skills in active travel. Government cuts have resulted in a failure to expand Bikeability training appropriately.
Part of its goals was to increase the proportion of children outside of London completing basic road training before leaving primary school. Currently, an increase of around 2-thirds is required to deliver on the Gear Change commitment.
The NAO report recognised that more needed to be done to create a behavioural change, and that current levels of dedicated active travel spend would not result in reaching this goal.
Previous guest on The Drive Phase podcast and Chief Executive of Bikeability Trust added:
“…At a time when climate change is rising up the political agenda faster than ever before, it is imperative that the government delivers on its manifesto pledge to offer Bikeability cycle training to every child.”
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