Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Active Travel

Thursday 30 June 2022 · 4 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Rachael Maskell raised concerns about the growth in car journeys exceeding cycling growth in York.
  • The Minister highlighted the Prime Minister's ambition for half of all journeys to be walked or cycled by 2030.
  • Stephen Hammond inquired about encouraging active travel in rural communities through park and ride schemes.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Rachael Maskell Labour (Co-op) York Central
Transport
Context

The MP noted York's potential as the UK's cycling capital, with Active Travel England based there. However, car journeys are now exceeding growth in cycling, leading to concerns about safety and infrastructure.

Question

York should be the UK's cycling capital—it is the home of Active Travel England and it is easy cycling terrain. It was seeing sustained growth, but the growth in car journeys is now exceeding the growth in cycling, and there are concerns about accidents, confidence and a lack of infrastructure. The active travel budget is woefully small compared with that for roads, and less than a third of what is needed to reach the 2025 target for cycling and walking, so what is the Minister doing to ensure that the funding is in place for the scale of modal shift that is needed?

Answer from Trudy Harrison

The hon. Lady shares the Prime Minister's ambition to ensure that half of all journeys are walked or cycled in towns and cities by 2030, as set out in “Gear Change”. We are investing more money than ever—£2 billion—and we have established Active Travel England in York. We have now appointed Chris Boardman MBE as England's active travel commissioner and I will soon publish the second cycling and walking strategy.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not address the specific funding requirements to meet targets.

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Q2 Rachael Maskell Labour (Co-op) York Central
Transport
Context

There is a need for an improved ticketing offer for the railways in order to encourage modal shift from cars to public transport.

Question

The shift from cars to all modes of transport, which will benefit us in environmental and health terms, would undoubtedly be improved by a better ticketing offer for the railways. Does the Minister agree that it is the Government's job to ensure a well-functioning ticketing system, as opposed to mandating Great British Railways? We have some of the world's leading ticketing companies putting forward innovative new offers, and it would be better to ensure that shift by incentivising those companies.

Answer from Trudy Harrison

That is a bit of a stretch from the question on active travel, but I agree that it is equally important to have modal continuity between active travel and public services. I suggest that my hon. Friend meets the Rail Minister, my hon. Friend the Member for Aldridge-Brownhills (Wendy Morton), about that specific question.

Not addressed: The question was about railway ticketing incentives; answer shifted to modal continuity and suggested meeting with another minister.

How: That Is A Bit Of A Stretch

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Q3 Stephen Hammond Con
Transport Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

Many people in rural areas rely on cars as their mode of transport due to lack of bus services.

Question

Although it is important for people to move from cars to more active travel, the reality for many of us in rural communities is that we cannot, because the bus services are not there and cars are our mode of transport. One way to do it would be through a park and ride—in other words, for people to make their journey from the countryside to the town, park, then ride on a Glider. Is the Minister looking at that?

Answer from Trudy Harrison

I certainly am. We are looking at all ways to reduce congestion and enable people to be fitter and to get from A to B in the most cost-effective way. I would be delighted to meet the hon. Member to talk in more detail about all the roles of active travel, lift sharing and park and ride, and the different ways people can now get around with the modern transport revolution.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not provide specific commitments on implementing park and ride systems.

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Q4 Jim Shannon DUP Strangford
Transport
Context

The MP noted York's potential as the UK's cycling capital, with Active Travel England based there. However, car journeys are now exceeding growth in cycling, leading to concerns about safety and infrastructure.

Question

What steps he is taking to encourage a shift from the use of cars to active travel.

Answer from Trudy Harrison

We are investing £2 billion in active travel over this Parliament to encourage more people to walk and cycle for short journeys.

Answered
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