Calls for 'vital' segregated routes for cyclists and motor vehicles with youngsters feeling 'unsafe'

Speaking in a Westminster Hall debate on road safety and supporting active travel to school, Mrs Buckley asked the Minister for the Future of Roads, Lilian Greenwood MP whether she agreed that investment into segregated routes to separate cyclists and motor vehicles would encourage more people to cycle and walk short journeys.

The Labour MP described the county town as "congested" and said the area has become dominated by cars.

She added that cycling was a "key priority" for constituents where 68 per cent of children aged 10 to 11 years old have been trained through the Bikeability scheme at their schools.

The debate opened with a speech by Olly Glover MP who said that figures from the UK National Travel Survey found that the number of children aged five to 15 who walk or cycle to school declined from 67 per cent in 1975-76 to 47 per cent in 2023.

He added that Department for Transport figures suggest that just 3 per cent of children cycle to school.

Mrs Buckley, who is also a member of the all-party parliamentary group for cycling and walking, said: "Cycling is a key priority for my constituency of Shrewsbury, where 68 per cent of pupils aged 10 and 11 were trained under the famous Bikeability scheme at school. Unfortunately, in our historic town, we have in recent years allowed the car to dominate most of our neighbourhoods to the detriment of road safety.

"Just last month, on March 20, I met the young people on the Shrewsbury Youth Council at the Grange Centre in Harlescott, and listened to their feedback on our Shrewsbury Moves plan for more active travel. They told me they do not feel safe cycling on the roads due to the speed of drivers and lack of cycle paths.

"Does the Minister agree that investment in segregated routes to create that all-important separation between cyclists and motor vehicles is vital to enabling and encouraging more people to cycle and walk short journeys, such as across my congested, yet beautiful town of Shrewsbury?"

Lilian Greenwood MP addressed those who attended the debate, saying the Government is "keen" to support local authorities who wish to develop infrastructure in their local area - whether this be introducing segregated routes as Mrs Buckley called for, lower speed limits, or new and improved road crossings.

She said building high-quality active travel infrastructure would give people the choice to walk and cycle, and help to improve road safety, reducing the number of collisions and cutting the number of people who are killed or seriously injured.