A new report has found that the economic benefits of active travel far outweigh the Government’s current multi-year investment.
In July, the Government published the second cycling and walking investment strategy (CWIS2), with the projection that nearly £4bn will be invested in active travel between 2021 and 2025.
The new report, published by Sustrans, concludes that walking, wheeling and cycling generated £36.5bn for the UK economy in 2021 alone.
The figure is based on the direct economic benefits of walking and cycling as well as others such as reducing the cost of traffic congestion and running a car, improved health and reduced burden on the NHS, and fewer sick days at work.
Among the findings are that people who walk to the high street spend up to 40% more than those who drive, while physically active people take 27% fewer sick days each year than their colleagues.
Following the publication of the report, a coalition of organisations, led by Sustrans, has written to the transport secretary, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, to emphasise the ‘vital contribution’ of walking and cycling to the UK’s economic growth and to society.
The cross-sector group is calling on the Government to protect the funding for cycling and walking already committed in CWIS2.
They say it is crucial the Government ringfences this money in order to foster aspirations for growth and to support people through the cost of living crisis.
Xavier Brice, Sustrans CEO, said: “It’s clear that active forms of travel, such as walking and cycling, bring in billions of pounds of economic benefit.
“Plus, as people are hit by the cost of living crisis, affordable ways of getting around are critical.
“People must have the opportunity to make the active travel choice instead of expensive car use, to boost people’s spending power for the benefit of the economy and our hopes of growth.”
Among the coalition of organisations backing the call is the AA.
Edmund King OBE, AA president, said: “Every driver is a pedestrian and most cyclists are drivers, therefore it is in everyone’s interest to level up walking and cycling infrastructure.
“By creating new routes, as well as investing in existing paths and footways, we can create a safer, greener transport network that benefits all road users.
“Maintaining the £4bn budget for these projects will also help drivers save money on fuel or electricity.”
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