AGMA needs to commit serious ‘active travel’ funding to meet Climate Targets.
release
On 29th January the AGMA Executive committee will be voting to reallocate the funding aimed at encouraging people in Greater Manchester to walk and cycle more. At a time when GM local authorities are faced with the multiple challenges of rising obesity levels, congested roads, high air pollution and the need to reduce C02 emissions Manchester Friends of the Earth are calling on AGMA leaders to commit serious funding for ‘active travel’ (cycling and walking) programmes. [1]
The AGMA report proposes to continue support for the existing staff posts but does not allocate any funding for Greater Manchester wide active travel, cycling and walking promotional and marketing activities. In previous years this funding has been in the order of £95K (£50K for cycling, £20K for walking and £25K for active travel).
All 10 of the GM local authorities will face challenging targets set by national Government to reduce C02 emissions. According to Defra data, transport accounted for 17.2% of the total C02 emissions within Greater Manchester. [2]
AGMA have publicly recognised the need to increase the number of people in the City Region who chose active travel modes such as walking and cycling and over 50% of the car journeys in Greater Manchester are less than 5 miles. A distance that can be easily cycled by many people and which will often be quicker, cheaper and healthier to travel by bicycle than by car.
Graeme Sherriff, from Manchester Friends of the Earth said:
“London has set an ambitious target to increase its current 500,000 cycle journeys per day by 400% to 2,500,000 per day by 2025 and has just announced a further £300,000 of investment to encourage cycling in all 10 of its Boroughs. If Greater Manchester is serious about meeting its congestion, health and climate targets, then the AGMA Executive and GM Council leaders need to make sure there is increased funding for promoting active travel, walking and cycling.”
In December 2002, Greater Manchester was criticised by the Department for Transport (DfT) for the lack of progress on increasing walking and cycling measures.[3] Since then a range of measures, including the funding for GM wide cycling & walking promotional and marketing activities has seen a 6% increase in cycling levels compared to 2005/06.[4] However, Greater Manchester cycling levels are still very low compared to other cities in the UK.
The DfT guidance for the Greater Manchester Local Transport Plan 3 (LTP3), currently being drafted, clearly states that schemes to promote active travel (cycling and walking) will be a key part of the evaluation of all local authority plans. Cycling and walking schemes must be included to meet national Governments’ Delivering a Sustainable Transport System (DaSTS) goals.[5]
Manchester Friends of the Earth believe that combining a more sustainable public transport network with greater support and encouragement for people in Greater Manchester to walk and cycle more, would help local authorities to meet the multiple challenges of: reducing road congestion, improving air quality levels, obesity levels and meeting C02 emission reduction targets.
The AGMA Executive need to make clear what funding is available for active travel, walking and cycling projects. Not to do so would send a very negative message to the residents of Greater Manchester as well as the Department for Transport, Cycling England and other government agencies responsible for assessing the Local Transport Plan as well as any future bids for sustainable transport funding.
CONTACTS FOR COMMENTS
Graeme Sherriff, Manchester Friends of the Earth, Transport Campaign co-ordinator. Mobile: 07948 405071.
Pete Abel, Love Your Bike campaign. Mobile: 07951 642858
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
[1] The LTP Finance Review report is available at www.agma.gov.uk/cms_media/files/6_ltp_finance_review_for_2010_11.pdf
[2] Data from www.defra.gov.uk/evidence/statistics/environment/globatmos/download/regionalrpt/local-regionalco2-ni186indicator.xls
[3] www.gmltp.co.uk%2Fpdfs%2Fprog_rep_03%2FMessage_chair_1.pdf
[4] www.gmltp.co.uk%2Fpdfs%2F2008%2FLTP2_Progress_Report_Executive_Summary.pdf
