Get your MP to speak up for investment in cycling

MPs have a new opportunity to debate investment in cycling in the House of Commons at 4.30pm on Wednesday (3rd February). Tabled by Chris Green, Conservative MP for Bolton West, the debate follows the Chancellor's Autumn Statement last November, which included what CTC branded a 'derisory' £300m over the next five years, to cover walking as well as cycling. This amounts to central Government funding of just £1.39 per person in England outside London.

You can help us persuade your MP to speak up and support investment for cycling at the debate by taking CTC's simple online action here.

CTC has long supported the All Party Parliamentary Cycling Group's call for sustained investment in cycling of at least £10 per head annually, rising to £20 per head. We believe this is the minimum needed to boost UK cycling levels from 2% of trips towards continental levels of cycle use, e.g. to German levels (10% of trips) within 10 years and to Dutch levels (25%) by 2050. Cycling minister Robert Goodwill MP told Parliament in 2014 that he aspired to reach the £10 per head figure by 2020/21, yet the funding so far allocated for cycling falls well short of this level.

Government should reallocate some of the £15bn from roads to cycling and walking investment. Rather than worsening air pollution, congestion and other traffic-related problems, the money could be so much better spent on solving them

David Murray, Head of Communications and Campaigns, CTC

Speaking ahead of the debate, David Murray, CTC's Head of Communications and Campaigns, said: "To put this in perspective, national roads funding is set at £15bn over the next five years. We believe that the Government should reallocate some of that £15bn from roads to cycling and walking investment. Instead of worsening air pollution, congestion and other traffic-related problems, the money could be so much better spent on solving them."

Take part in our simple online action that will send a message to your MP to highlight the funding issue, and encourage them to attend the debate. Email your MP by taking action here.

The House of Commons also invites you to tweet your views to Chris Green and other MPs taking part in the debate, from 4.30pm to 5.30pm on Tuesday 2nd February (i.e. 24 hours before the Commons debate itself), using the hashtag #Funding4Cycling.