United Kingdom funding the expansion of bicycle lanes

Pop-up bicycle lanes with protected space for cycling, wider pavements, safer junctions, and cycle and bus-only corridors will be created in England as part of a £250 million emergency active travel fund - the first stage of a £2 billion investment announced on May 9, 2020, as part of the £5 billion in new funding announced for cycling and buses in February. Following unprecedented levels of walking and cycling across the United Kingdom during the pandemic, the plans will help encourage more people to choose alternatives to public transport when they need to travel, making healthier habits easier and helping make sure the road, bus and rail networks are ready to respond to future increases in demand. Fast-tracked statutory guidance will guide councils to reallocate road space for significantly-increased numbers of cyclists and pedestrians. In towns and cities, some streets could become bicycle and bus-only while others remain available for motorists. More side streets could be closed to through traffic, to create low-traffic neighbourhoods. Vouchers will be issued for bicycle repairs, to encourage people to get their old bicycles out of the shed, and plans are being developed for greater provision of bicycle fixing facilities.