Active travel schemes including LTNs have failed to boost walking and cycling ... trends now
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Billions of pounds have potentially been wasted on active travel schemes such as low-traffic neighbourhoods that have failed to boost walking and cycling rates, a study suggests.
The report by the Public Accounts Committee found that despite ministers spending over £3.3billion between 2016 and 2021, there had been 'no sustained increase in walking or cycling'.
In some cases, such as the proportion of children walking to school, levels of activity are now lower than when targets were set.
The PAC report found that the Department for Transport did not require town halls to monitor or evaluate schemes worth less than £2million.
It means it is not known if many have provided value for money as average grants given to councils are £750,000.
The report by the Public Accounts Committee found that despite ministers spending over £3.3billion between 2016 and 2021, there had been 'no sustained increase in walking or cycling' (Stock Photo)
Cycling boomed during the Covid pandemic which led to the installation of more cycle lanes and controversial low-traffic neighbourhoods (Stock Photo)
The report said: 'There has been no sustained increase in cycling rates... the DfT is not on track to meet its objectives to increase rates of active travel by 2025.'
The Government expects to spend £6.6billion on these travel schemes by
