Ellie Ames 02 January 2025

‘Negative narrative’ on cycling harming health, travel boss warns

‘Negative narrative’ on cycling harming health, travel boss warns image
Image: Mareks Perkons / Shutterstock.com

Anti-cycling coverage in parts of the media is damaging public health, according to Chris Boardman, who leads government efforts to boost active travel in England.

Mr Boardman, who is also a former champion cyclist, heads up Active Travel England, which aims to make ‘walking, wheeling and cycling the preferred choice for everyone to get around’.

But he told the Guardian there is currently ‘a very consistent, non-evidence-based, negative narrative to stop any change’.

Under Rishi Sunak’s government, ministers published a ‘long-term government plan to back drivers’ and pushed back against ‘anti-car measures’ like 20mph speed limits and low-traffic neighbourhoods.

Despite Labour’s General Election win, it remains ‘very politically noisy’ to stand for better walking and cycling routes, which could discourage local politicians from doing so, Mr Boardman said.

He said active travel was the ‘foundation of a thriving public transport’ and argued that changing the way people move around was the only way to achieve the Government’s pledge to tackle the underlying causes of preventable ill-health.

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Principal Engineer - Urban Traffic Control (UTC)

Liverpool City Council
£44,711 - £49,764
Liverpool is home to vibrant, energetic and engaged communities. Liverpool, Merseyside
Recuriter: Liverpool City Council

Social Worker Campaign - Adult Services

The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea Council
Negotiable
Support residents to live more independently, with compassion at the heart of your workSupport residents to live more independently, with compassion a England, London
Recuriter: The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea Council

Prinicipal Surveyor

Durham County Council
Grade 14 £ 48,710 to £52,805 pa (Pay Award Pending)
We are looking for an individual who has specialist knowledge of property and property processes and who has a professional, positive, enthusiastic an Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Customer Service Adviser (Saturday)

Oxfordshire County Council
£24404 - £24790
About the Role Customer Service Advisers are the first point of contact with library customers and library partners. The role involves continual interaction with users of the library, face to face, via email or by telephone and is a job where you can have Summertown Library, South Parade, Oxford
Recuriter: Oxfordshire County Council

Continuous Improvement Audit Lead

Oxfordshire County Council
£57178 - £60485
About the Role The Continuous Improvement Audit Lead will work collaboratively across our Children, Education and Families directorate, using learning from quality assurance activity to strengthen and develop all areas of children’s services’ skills, Oxford
Recuriter: Oxfordshire County Council
Linkedin Banner