PJA chairman to give evidence on boosting cycling

Birmingham transport planning specialist Phil Jones has been asked to give evidence to the Transport Select Committee for its inquiry into ways of boosting walking and cycling across England.

Jones, who is chairman of Longbridge-based Transport planning, engineering and placemaking firm PJA, will provide his findings to the committee of MPs at Parliament on 17th December.

Chair of the transport committee Lilian Greenwood MP said: “Walking and cycling are both extremely important modes of sustainable transport.

“The health benefits, as well as their contribution to cutting air pollution and congestion on the roads, are clear.

“However, take-up of active travel is disappointingly low in this country, with significant variations from region to region.

“Overall, we compare very unfavourably with many of our European neighbours. So why are we so slow to get active?

“Is local and central Government policy and funding appropriate? Is more needed than just building the infrastructure, such as cycle lanes? 

“How can we promote behavioural change so that walking or cycling become the default for first and last mile journeys?

“Those are the key questions at the heart of our inquiry, which I hope it will bring renewed attention to this issue.”

Jones said: “I feel honoured to be asked to provide evidence to Parliament on this very important issue. The take up of cycling and walking is improving in England, but remains patchy.

“Last year, on behalf of the Department for Transport, PJA began supporting local authorities who have chosen to produce the first round of Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans (LCWIPs) – which set out set out a long-term network plan for cycling and walking and a series of short, medium and long-term improvement schemes.

“I will suggest to the committee that more investment and support is needed to support local authorities in carrying out and implementing LCWIPs.

“I will also suggest more effort needs to be made by local authorities and developers to enable cycling as part of new residential developments.”