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The government is currently revising its 10-year plan for transport and will shortly set out its policy priorities and spending plans up to 2016.
The new coalition is calling for the government to fund twelve measures to help reduce traffic levels and improve the environment including:
* A cycle-friendly road network and cycle training for all
* Services and facilities close to people so they donÂ’t have to drive
* Safe routes to schools for all children
* Lower speed limits – 20mph default in residential areas
The Way to Go coalition is made up of Age Concern England; Campaign to Protect Rural England; Council for National Parks; CTC; Carplus –the car club network; Citizens Advice; DaRT (Dial-a-Ride and Taxicard Users Ltd); Environment Transport Association; Friends of the Earth England, Wales & Northern Ireland; Friends of the Earth Scotland; Help the Aged; Joint Committee on Mobility of Blind and Partially Sighted People; JMU Access Partnership; Living Streets; London Cycling Campaign; National Council of Women of Great Britain; National Federation of Bus Users; National Federation of Women’s Institutes; Railfuture; RamblersÂ’ Association; Royal National Institute for the Blind; SERA (Socialist Environment and Resources Association); Slower Speeds Initiative; Sustrans; Transform Scotland; Transport 2000; TSSA (Transport Salaried StaffsÂ’ Association) and UNISON.
CTC Campaigns and Policy Manager, Roger Geffen, said:
“As well increasing its funding for cycle facilities and cycle training, the government must tackle rising traffic levels in order to meet its target to triple cycle use. If we want to see more people cycling, particularly children, we need to bite the bullet and restrict traffic – we need to make it easier for people to leave their cars at home and cycle instead.”
The Way to Go coalition is asking people to send postcards or emails to their MP asking them to tell Transport Secretary, Alistair Darling, to commit to more funding for integgrated transport measures in his revised transport plan. Emails can be sent to MPs via the coalitionÂ’s website at http://www.waytogo.org.uk
