We need to voice support for active travel initiatives

Last week my local authority announced 41 new temporary 20mph speed limits in towns and villages across Perth and Kinross. The initiative is part of a Spaces for People project that supports active travel during lockdown.

The grant, administered by Sustrans, is aimed at improving safety and access for pedestrians and cyclists.

One of the villages is the one I live in and we have been asking for speed control for over a decade; it has no pavements and many children growing up there. I was delighted, with the only caveat being, why only temporary?

Predictably, the announcement was accompanied by the bumpers of gums – those who felt driving was difficult enough without having to go at 20mph.

This kind of rhetoric seems to pervade any kind of announcement that supports infrastructure for the safety of pedestrians, cyclists and other vulnerable road users.

However, on the same day another report was released from a Bike Is Best survey, commissioned by Dr Ian Walker, an environmental psychologist at the University of Bath.

It found 77% of the UK population would support changes that encouraged walking and cycling. It also found plans to action these changes were under threat from a minority of objectors.

In some areas in England, work on funded cycle routes had been cancelled after vocal protests from pro-motoring groups. In 2017 opposition against 20mph streets garnered the same outrage, but data showed the proportion opposed was only 10%.

Dr Walker said: “Perhaps one reason negative voices find it so easy to sway things their way is that people have a tendency to misjudge public levels of support. The survey showed that, while most people think Britain would be a better place if more people cycle, they also guessed that other people were less supportive, and more hostile, to the idea than they were.”

It seems ludicrous that anyone would be opposed to something that makes our lives safer and more pleasant.

Last week, on a cycle with my family, I was riding behind my daughter. We were on a long, straight, wide road.

I was aware that a vehicle was coming up behind us. It sounded fast and as I looked over my shoulder I saw a white 4WD. We were clearly visible and there was plenty of space to pass us safely.

I was shaken when it drove past us at speed and so close its wing mirror just missed clipping my daughter’s shoulder.

Thankfully such incidents are rare and I find drivers around my area travel with respect for cyclists, but there are the small minority, perhaps the 10% mentioned earlier, who hold other road users in contempt.

As cyclists, or those who have friends and family who cycle, we need to be vocal in our support for initiatives that encourage more cycling and sustainable transport infrastructure.

We need to let our voices be heard. We need to let it be known that behaviour that puts us in danger is not acceptable.

If a 20mph speed limit makes our journey in a car a few minutes longer, so be it. I’d say it is a price worth paying for the lives of our children and loved ones.

Where to ride: Pitmedden Forest, Abernethy

OS 1:50,000 Map 58 – NO189139 Parking: There is space for parking as you enter the forestry gate and further space as you head up the fire road Details: Pitmedden is one of those places that I head to too infrequently. Which is a shame as the mix of trails offer some great riding with so many options you can spend a whole day there and keep finding new tracks to ride. Please adhere to government guidelines in all outdoor activities.

Even if we don’t cycle ourselves, we all have friends and family who do.