In a coordinated effort, dozens of civil society organisations have issued a joint demand for the UK government to prioritise active travel infrastructure and policies. The groups, which include environmental, health, and transport advocacy bodies, assert that the extreme heat and wildfires witnessed across the country this summer are direct, local manifestations of global climate change.
The coalition's call centres on the transport sector, which is responsible for the largest share of the UK's greenhouse gas emissions. They argue that promoting walking and cycling — modes of transport with zero direct carbon emissions — is one of the most effective and immediate ways to cut these emissions. The groups are urging ministers to commit to ambitious targets for increasing the share of trips made by foot or bike and to back these targets with sustained funding for safe, continuous cycle lanes, pedestrianised zones, and secure bike parking.
The government has previously expressed support for active travel, but campaigners say current investment and policy ambition fall far short of what the climate crisis requires. They point to the recent heatwaves as a critical juncture, arguing that a rapid shift away from car dependency would not only lower emissions but also improve public health and reduce pressure on the NHS during extreme weather events. Critics of the approach, however, caution that while promoting active travel is valuable, it must be part of a broader transport strategy that includes public transport improvements and the electrification of vehicles to achieve national net-zero targets.