LETTER TO LOCAL TRANSPORT TODAY, PUBLISHED IN 23.11.12 ISSUE http://www.transportxtra.com/magazines/local_transport_today/news/?ID=32833 The full letter is below, since you need a subscription to read the full letter on the LTT website above. from: Dave du Feu to: "ed.ltt" date: 20 November 2012 10:15 subject: Letter for possible publication It was interesting to read [Local Transport Today 9.11.12] that Windsor and Maidenhead has allocated a small sum to cycling-specific road maintenance measures. However Edinburgh City Council, which has already achieved 7% cycle modal share for journeys to work, and has set 2020 targets of 15% for work journeys and 10% for all journeys, has allocated 5% of both its capital and revenue transport budgets to cycling. This percentage is also to rise by 1% annually during the current administration. These sums will of course include cycling-specific maintenance needs for onroad and offroad facilties. Edinburgh should thus achieve the aspiration of the Association of Directors of Public Health* [supported by over 100 other organisations, such as the Institute of Highway Engineers] that 10% of transport budgets should be allocated to active travel. Sadly the figure for the Scottish Government** remains at under 1% for cycling, and little more for active travel - and I suspect it is as low or even lower for the UK government. It would be interesting to know whether any other UK local authorities have allocated a specific % of their transport budget to cycling on an ongoing basis - Edinburgh is certainly the first such council in Scotland. Dave du Feu www.spokes.org.uk *www.adph.org.uk/ourwork/policy/activ **www.spokes.org.uk/2012/10/spokes-bulletin-114