Why do we need new cycle routes?
Every new housing development brings thousands of new people to an area, and most of them will leave every day for work, school or household tasks. These activities add thousands of daily journeys to local roads, most of which are done in petrol or diesel cars, creating pollution at the local level and contributing to climate change globally.
Developers and landowners make millions from new edge-of-town developments, and councils quite rightly make them contribute significant amounts of money to help fund local infrastructure that will be stretched as a result of the new housing.
We think that, as part of planning permission, some of that money should be set aside to build cycle routes. The cycle routes should run from each new development to the centre of town, the bus station and the train station, and from the centre of town to the retail parks, industrial estates and business parks. This would effectively connect people to everything they need, reducing car use, reducing local and global pollution, and improving health.
How can I help get more cycle routes built?
- Write to your local council and your political representative to demand that new developments are only granted planning permission if they add to the sustainability of the local transport system. While one letter won’t change anything, trust that your letter will eventually be one of thousands, evidence of a groundswell of public opinion that they can’t ignore
- Encourage other people to write as well
- Comment on planning applications for major developments
- Encourage other people to comment too. Share the link to the planning application, your suggestion for a cycle path, and the reasons why, in relevant social media groups. (Feel free to use the wording above.)
- To help promote cycle paths in your area and nationwide, join and support Sustrans. Sustrans delivers and manages the National Cycle Network, a UK-wide network of traffic-free paths connecting cities, towns and countryside
How can I contact my MP or political representative?
In the UK, you can find out who your MP is and how to contact them on They Work For You.
In the US, you can find out who your representative in Congress is here.
Image credit: photo by Mitchel Boot on Unsplash