Labour announces plan to make England one of the most cycling and walking friendly places in the world
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Labour is announcing ambitious plans for a new 'Healthy Streets
Programme' to make our towns and cities cleaner and greener to
transform the environment, travel opportunities and quality of life
across the country. Labour’s ‘Healthy Streets’ programme will be
modelled on the best towns in Denmark, Germany and the
Netherlands,. Like Amsterdam where 67% of trips are by foot or
bike. Only 29% of trips are made by foot or bike in the UK. Labour
will deliver the boost to...Request free
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Labour is announcing ambitious plans for a new 'Healthy Streets Programme' to make our towns and cities cleaner and greener to transform the environment, travel opportunities and quality of life across the country. Labour’s ‘Healthy Streets’ programme will be modelled on the best towns in Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands,. Like Amsterdam where 67% of trips are by foot or bike. Only 29% of trips are made by foot or bike in the UK. Labour will deliver the boost to cycling and walking needed to urgently tackle the climate emergency, the local air pollution crisis and the epidemic of ill-health caused by a lack of investment in walking and cycling. Labour’s investment in walking and cycling will, for the first time, make active travel a genuine option for the many, not just the brave. Labour will:
According to the Royal College of Physicians, 40,000 deaths a year are attributable to air pollution so reducing car emissions will have a positive public health effect. Andy McDonald, Labour’s Shadow Transport Secretary, said: “Walking and cycling are essential forms of transport, but have been neglected by 9 years of Tory Britain. "Making more of our everyday trips by walking and cycling is crucial to reducing transport emissions and tackling the climate emergency. "We could cut up to one third of carbon emissions from car journeys if we had the same quality of segregated cycle infrastructure and cycling culture as the Dutch, and simultaneously we would cut the obesity and diabetes crisis that is threatening to overwhelm the NHS. "Labour’s plans will make England one the best countries in the world for walking and cycling." Ends
Notes to editors
Labour will ensure that annual funding for walking and cycling reaches £50 per person. In comparison, the Conservative government has estimated £7 per year is being spent on active travel:
Supporting the electric bike revolution:
· A Labour government will take a stake in a world-leading electric bike research, development and manufacturing facility that will form the core of an ‘E-bike Valley’ industrial cluster. · E-cargo bike demonstration cities. · Grants of £200 for e-bike purchase to boost purchase rates to those in other European countries.
In addition to Green Transformation Fund investment, Labour will also provide £2.5bn of revenue funding during its first term of government. This will fund:
This will be funded by broadening the government’s planned hypothecation of Vehicle Excise Duty to include sustainable transport.
· Research indicates that up to one third of carbon emissions from car journeys could be avoided by cycling and walking if we had the same quality of segregated cycle infrastructure and cycling culture as the Dutch and widespread adoption of electrically-assisted bicycles. http://www.transportforqualityoflife.com/u/files/8%20A%20Radical%20Transport%20Response%20to%20the%20Climate%20Emergency.pdf)
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