British Cycling and a range of sustainable transport organisations have today written a joint statement about the need for a vital amendment to the Infrastructure Bill which is currently going through parliament.

The Bill, which dictates the direction and spending commitments on infrastructure for the near future, does not include plans for any long term funding to increase cycling and walking.

In order to change this, a great deal of public support is needed. British Cycling is asking its supporters to write to their MP requesting that they put their name to the amendment of the Bill.

The joint statement issued today reads:

“One of the most important bills going through parliament this year is approaching its conclusion. The Infrastructure Bill proposes a five year Roads Investment Strategy, but currently makes no similar commitment to long-term funding to vitally increase cycling and walking.

“It is not without irony that this falls so soon after the latest 12-year study from Cambridge University found that inactivity is killing twice as many people as obesity. This is combined with the fact that inactivity costs the UK economy £20 billion every year, with one in six deaths linked to physical inactivity. We must act now and make cycling and walking easier to do every day.

“This is why we are supporting an amendment to the Infrastructure Bill to include a Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy – to provide the long-term commitment to funding that is so desperately needed to increase levels of cycling and walking for the health of our nation. We urge as many people to write to their MP as possible this week to ask them to put their name to this important amendment and help turn the tide of physical inactivity.

“Our coalition supporting this amendment to the Infrastructure Bill is comprised of leading organisations in this area. Together we represent countless members of the public who are all clamouring for a bill that reflects the importance of walking and cycling in the 21st century.”

Signed by British Cycling; Campaign for Better Transport; Campaign to Protect Rural England; CTC: the National Cycling Charity; Living Streets; Sustrans