It should be a no-brainer. In a country where 63.8% of adults are overweight, millions of people do not take the minimum amount of recommended exercise, and air pollution is a serious risk to health, encouraging walking and cycling rather than driving short distances is good public policy. All over the world, but particularly in rich, western countries such as the UK, where populations are ageing and healthcare costs are rising, boosting public health and preventing illness should be aims shared by all. As well as their local impacts, cars are a big contributor to global heating and in 2021 were responsible for 57% of the UK’s transport emissions.
But ever since the Conservatives pulled off a narrow victory in last year’s Uxbridge and South Ruislip byelection, aided to some degree by their opposition to the expansion of Sadiq Khan’s ultra-low emissions zone (Ulez), Rishi Sunak’s government has performed an about-turn. A preference for private over public transport has long been a feature of rightwing politics. But under Boris Johnson, a combination of public health and climate goals convinced the party to back schemes aimed at discouraging unnecessary driving. In 2020, ministers made new funding available for low-traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) because of the need for safe alternatives to trains and buses during the pandemic. In London, an unprecedented expansion led to 300,000 people finding themselves living in an LTN within six months.
