Walking, Wheeling and Cycling Paths

Baroness Kramer Excerpts

Monday 1st December 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb (GP)]

My Lords, is there a plan to put in new permitted development rights for cycle, wheel and walking routes? That could be done quite easily by changing existing regulations. Allowing these paths to go ahead is crucial for human health.

[Baroness Kramer (LD)]

My Lords—

[Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill (Lab)]

All too frequently, the noble Baroness, Lady Kramer, wants to answer the questions for me; she is very welcome to. The question about permitted development rights is, I think, a blind alley, but I will take some advice and write to the noble Baroness, Lady Jones, about it. What we are talking about is making this easy and economical to do. My Answer demonstrated that the Government are putting money into this activity for local transport authorities and giving them the opportunity to develop their plans. I will take some advice to see whether the noble Baroness’s suggestion is something that I should write to her about.

--- Later in debate ---

[Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill (Lab)]

The first thing to say is that the Highway Code tells cyclists to behave properly on the road. Enforcement of the Highway Code is up to chief police officers; it is not our job to tell them what to police. When there is enforcement, compliance is much greater—and what we are seeking here is not penalties but compliance. It ought to be safe to cycle and drive, and it ought especially to be safe for pedestrians, particularly those with disabilities, to cross the road when the traffic lights are red.

[Baroness Kramer (LD)]

Can the Minister comment on the fact that the Government’s consultation for the new cycling and walking investment strategy for England does not set any specific targets to increase those modes of transport, and there are no KPIs to make it more inclusive for people with disabilities, for example? Will the Minister ensure that the final strategy addresses those concerns? If it does not, we will not see the action we need.