Gender gap overlooked in British government's £4.5 billion active travel plan, says Cycling UK

The British government has unveiled a £4.5 billion Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy aimed at promoting active travel over the next five years. The plan sets ambitious targets, including encouraging 55% of people to undertake short journeys by bike or on foot by 2035 and increasing active travel among schoolchildren to 60%. It also includes the creation of 5,000 new cycling and walking routes and 10,000 safer crossings by 2030, with a focus on connecting transport hubs such as train stations to make active travel more accessible and practical. Despite welcoming the scale and ambition of the investment, campaign group Cycling UK has criticised the strategy for failing to address the significant gender gap in cycling. Women currently make only half as many bike journeys as men, a disparity that Cycling UK believes represents a missed opportunity to promote equality and inclusivity within active travel initiatives. Sarah Whitbread, Cycling UK’s head of policy, highlighted the absence of specific measures to close this gap, arguing that addressing it would improve cycling conditions for all users. Government officials have emphasised the broader benefits of the strategy, with Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander stressing the importance of creating safe and convenient options for walking and cycling to encourage more people to adopt these modes of transport. Health Secretary James Murray pointed to the strategy’s potential to reduce health inequalities and ease pressure on the NHS by improving public health through increased physical activity. The strategy aligns with the government’s goal of placing cycling on an equal footing with other transport options. Cycling UK’s recent report underscores the benefits of investing in cycling infrastructure, reinforcing the need for local authorities and the government to translate the strategy’s ambitions into tangible improvements. While the funding and targets mark a significant step forward for active travel in the UK, the omission of targeted efforts to close the gender gap suggests further work is needed to ensure the strategy delivers equitable outcomes across all demographics. The success of the plan will ultimately depend on how effectively these commitments are implemented at both national and local levels.