Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hanson of Flint on 26 February (HL14639), how many fixed penalty notices have been issued to cyclists and scooter riders for (1) jumping red lights, and (2) riding on pavements, in England in the past 12 months; and whether they have plans to introduce legislation to reduce those practices.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office does not collect or hold specific data on the number of fixed penalty notices issued to cyclists or scooter riders.
The Home Office’s annual publication Police Powers and Procedures: Roads Policing - the most recent edition of which is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-powers-and-procedures-roads-policing-to-december-2023 - provides statistics on fixed penalty notices and other outcomes for motoring offences, all of which apply exclusively to motor-vehicle drivers. Cyclists are therefore excluded from the scope of the published figures.
It is an offence for a cyclist to jump a red light and to cycle on a pavement, and the Government is determined to go further to make our streets safer for pedestrians by introducing new cycling offences through the Crime and Policing Bill, which will tackle instances where victims have been killed or seriously injured by irresponsible cyclists, ensuring parity of enforcement powers against dangerous behaviour on our roads, for all road users.
The Crime and Policing Bill will also give police greater powers to clamp down on anti-social behaviour involving e-scooters, with officers no longer required to issue a warning before seizure. This will allow police to put an immediate stop to offending.
Asked by: Joe Robertson (Conservative - Isle of Wight East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether Rule H1 was developed as part of the Government’s active travel or modal shift objectives; and what steps she took to consult motorcyclist and motorist organisations during drafting.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The previous Government updated the Highway Code in 2022 to improve road safety for people walking, cycling and riding horses including the introduction of a hierarchy of road users. This review of the Highway Code was announced as part of the Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy Safety Review in September 2017.
When undertaking the review of The Highway Code the Department for Transport worked closely with representative organisations to seek their views and experiences, including motoring groups. The consultation on the proposed changes ran for 3 months and generated a huge response with nearly 21,000 replies received from a wide range of road users.
Asked by: Olly Glover (Liberal Democrat - Didcot and Wantage)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to help promote and raise awareness of measures to prevent bike thefts such as insurance, appropriate bike locks, and police bike marking.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
I am aware that bike theft is a major problem and that the fear of having a bike stolen can act as a serious deterrent to those who might otherwise want to take up cycling. Active Travel England is providing funding for local authorities to introduce secure cycle parking. Ultimately, enforcement of offences concerning cycle theft and advice on preventative measures is a matter for the police.
Asked by: Vikki Slade (Liberal Democrat - Mid Dorset and North Poole)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will take steps to reduce speed limits on roads outside of schools to 20 miles per hour or below during school (a) hours, (b) arrival times and (c) collection times.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
Local traffic authorities have the power to set 20mph speed limits where people and traffic mix, for example outside schools. They can also set enforceable 20mph limits that apply only at certain times of day, for example at school drop-off and pick-up times.
The Government supports 20mph limits in the right places, particularly around schools or where walking and cycling levels are high. However, the Government does not support mandating a national change, as many roads are unsuited to 20mph by the nature of their function or geometry and could unintentionally reduce safety. Local authorities are best placed to decide where 20mph limits will work effectively based on local conditions and community needs.
If, following consultation with local communities, local authorities decide to take such actions, they will have the Department's full backing.
The Government expects local authorities to work with local schools, parents, and communities to address concerns about road safety in their local area.
Asked by: Greg Smith (Conservative - Mid Buckinghamshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what evidence her Department holds that floating bus stops improve (a) actual cyclist safety and (b) cyclists’ perception of safety.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
Cyclists face significant risk when interacting with motor vehicles: in 2024 there were 14,549 cyclist casualties on Great Britain’s roads, the overwhelming majority arising from collisions with motor vehicles rather than pedestrians or other cyclists.
The importance of perceived safety is reflected in survey evidence. The latest Walking and Cycling Index (2023) shows that 58% of residents support more cycle paths protected from traffic, reflecting continued strong public backing for protected cycling infrastructure.
Active Travel England is undertaking further research, reporting in 2027, to strengthen the evidence base on the safety, accessibility and user experience relating to Floating Bus Stops.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department provides guidance to blind and partially sighted people who are unable to cycle or drive.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The government is committed to improving transport services, so they are more inclusive and enable disabled people to travel safely, confidently and with dignity, including for blind and partially sighted people. As part of our broader mission to break down barriers to opportunity, we recognise that more needs to be done to ensure public transport is accessible to all.
Our Bus Services Act 2025 includes a comprehensive package of measures to improve the accessibility and inclusivity of local transport. Through the Act, we are helping authorities to provide safer and more accessible bus stations and stops and mandating more streamlined disability training for bus drivers and frontline staff. We are also requiring local authorities to regularly review the accessibility of their bus networks through the development and publication of a Bus Network Accessibility Plan.
We are equally committed to improving the experience for disabled passengers on rail services and that is why we published the Department’s roadmap to an accessible railway. It sets out what we are doing now to improve the day-to-day travelling experience for disabled passengers in the lead up to Great British Railways being established. The Railways Bill will also establish a Passenger Watchdog, protecting the rights of disabled passengers by monitoring service delivery, investigating persistent issues, and advocating for improvements. We are also continuing to install accessible routes at stations through our Access for All programme and have completed a programme to install platform edge safety tactiles on every platform in the country.
The government recognises that pavement parking is also an issue that resonates deeply with communities across the country. The impact is felt by many; particularly people living with sight-loss, mobility or sensory disabilities, older adults, parents with young children, and anyone who relies on safe, accessible pavements to move around independently.
We are taking forward a new, devolved approach to pavement parking, reflecting our commitment to decisions being made closer to the communities they affect. Local leaders understand their community best and are therefore in the strongest position to meet local needs effectively. The measures the government is taking forward support our commitment to improve transport users’ experience, ensuring that our roads and pavements are safe, reliable, and inclusive.
The Department also provides advice to taxi and private hire vehicle licensing authorities in England on the steps they can take to improve the accessibility of services. This recommends mandatory disability awareness training for drivers and sets out recommendations to make reporting of incidents of alleged discrimination straightforward, with authorities expected to investigate thoroughly and take effective action. It also recognises the specific challenges that visually impaired passengers may face when providing evidence of incidents and advises licensing authorities to accept appropriate audio or video evidence and, where relevant, seek information from operators and partner agencies. The guidance also encourages authorities to explore more accessible payment options, such as ‘talking’ meters or more accessible card readers.
Further, the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, currently being considered by the House of Lords, seeks to provide a power for the Secretary of State to set in regulations requirements that must be met for any taxi or private hire vehicle licence to be issued and held.
The provision of accessible transport services, including for blind and partially sighted people, also requires a strong impetus from transport providers. We would expect transport authorities and operators to play their part in delivering this service – by communicating with their passengers, including about the accessibility measures they provide to encourage use.
To build on this, we are committed to developing an Accessible Travel Charter. The Charter is a commitment to a shared vision for accessible travel. It will set out what disabled travellers can expect from their journeys, share best practice across organisations and create consistency in end-to-end journeys for disabled travellers.
The Department also provides other support to allow blind and partially sighted passengers to travel including through the blue badge scheme and concessionary travel on public transport.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate her Department has made of the proportion of cyclist injury collisions that occur (a) at and (b) in the vicinity of bus stops; and whether evidence supports the association of cyclist collisions with bus stop design.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
There is no national estimate of cyclist injury collisions occurring at or near bus stops. National collision data does not routinely identify bus-stop locations, and non-fatal cycling injuries are significantly under-reported, making precise calculations difficult.
Cyclists face substantial injury risk when mixing with motor traffic. In 2024, there were 14,549 cyclist casualties on Great Britain’s roads (82 killed, 3,822 seriously injured), the overwhelming majority involving motor vehicles.
Active Travel England and the Department is undertaking further research, reporting in 2027, to strengthen the evidence base on the safety, accessibility and user experience relating to Floating Bus Stops.
Asked by: Jenny Riddell-Carpenter (Labour - Suffolk Coastal)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what funding is available to local authorities to deliver road safety measures around schools, including crossings, speed management and parking enforcement in 2026-27 in (a) England, (b) the East of England, (c) Suffolk and (d) Suffolk Coastal constituency.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Government provides a range of funding streams and national guidance to support local authorities in improving road safety around schools, including measures such as pedestrian crossings, traffic‑calming, speed management and School Streets schemes.
We have confirmed £7.3 billion of capital funding for local highway maintenance across England between 2026–27 and 2029–30, allocated to local authorities to maintain and improve their road networks. This includes the road infrastructure around schools.
The Consolidated Active Travel Fund (CATF) may be used to deliver safety improvements around schools as part of wider walking and cycling programmes. In the latest CATF allocation round, Suffolk County Council received £2,784,685, which can be used for schemes in any part of the county, including within the Suffolk Coastal constituency.
Local authorities are responsible for identifying risks around schools and selecting appropriate interventions, drawing on national guidance. This includes:
Setting Local Speed Limits, which advises on implementing permanent or time‑limited 20 mph limits outside schools and is being updated as part of the Government’s Road Safety Strategy.
Chapter 6 of the Traffic Signs Manual, which provides guidance on the design and use of pedestrian crossings.
Local Transport Note 1/07, which sets out advice on traffic‑calming measures.
Guidance from the Department for Transport and Active Travel England on establishing and managing School Streets schemes, which restrict vehicle access near schools at peak times.
It is for local authorities to determine what measures are appropriate in individual cases as they have the local knowledge and it is right that they focus on the areas of highest risk, which may be where tragic collisions have occurred - but there is nothing to stop them implementing road safety measures elsewhere. The Government expects local authorities to work with local schools, parents, and communities to address concerns about road safety in their local area.
Asked by: Jenny Riddell-Carpenter (Labour - Suffolk Coastal)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to ensure local authorities publish the outcome of school gate road safety assessments and the measures implemented at each school where risk is identified.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Government provides a range of funding streams and national guidance to support local authorities in improving road safety around schools, including measures such as pedestrian crossings, traffic‑calming, speed management and School Streets schemes.
We have confirmed £7.3 billion of capital funding for local highway maintenance across England between 2026–27 and 2029–30, allocated to local authorities to maintain and improve their road networks. This includes the road infrastructure around schools.
The Consolidated Active Travel Fund (CATF) may be used to deliver safety improvements around schools as part of wider walking and cycling programmes. In the latest CATF allocation round, Suffolk County Council received £2,784,685, which can be used for schemes in any part of the county, including within the Suffolk Coastal constituency.
Local authorities are responsible for identifying risks around schools and selecting appropriate interventions, drawing on national guidance. This includes:
Setting Local Speed Limits, which advises on implementing permanent or time‑limited 20 mph limits outside schools and is being updated as part of the Government’s Road Safety Strategy.
Chapter 6 of the Traffic Signs Manual, which provides guidance on the design and use of pedestrian crossings.
Local Transport Note 1/07, which sets out advice on traffic‑calming measures.
Guidance from the Department for Transport and Active Travel England on establishing and managing School Streets schemes, which restrict vehicle access near schools at peak times.
It is for local authorities to determine what measures are appropriate in individual cases as they have the local knowledge and it is right that they focus on the areas of highest risk, which may be where tragic collisions have occurred - but there is nothing to stop them implementing road safety measures elsewhere. The Government expects local authorities to work with local schools, parents, and communities to address concerns about road safety in their local area.
Asked by: Jenny Riddell-Carpenter (Labour - Suffolk Coastal)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what guidance her Department provides to local authorities on responding to road safety risks around schools, including time-limited 20 mph restrictions, crossings and school streets.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Government provides a range of funding streams and national guidance to support local authorities in improving road safety around schools, including measures such as pedestrian crossings, traffic‑calming, speed management and School Streets schemes.
We have confirmed £7.3 billion of capital funding for local highway maintenance across England between 2026–27 and 2029–30, allocated to local authorities to maintain and improve their road networks. This includes the road infrastructure around schools.
The Consolidated Active Travel Fund (CATF) may be used to deliver safety improvements around schools as part of wider walking and cycling programmes. In the latest CATF allocation round, Suffolk County Council received £2,784,685, which can be used for schemes in any part of the county, including within the Suffolk Coastal constituency.
Local authorities are responsible for identifying risks around schools and selecting appropriate interventions, drawing on national guidance. This includes:
Setting Local Speed Limits, which advises on implementing permanent or time‑limited 20 mph limits outside schools and is being updated as part of the Government’s Road Safety Strategy.
Chapter 6 of the Traffic Signs Manual, which provides guidance on the design and use of pedestrian crossings.
Local Transport Note 1/07, which sets out advice on traffic‑calming measures.
Guidance from the Department for Transport and Active Travel England on establishing and managing School Streets schemes, which restrict vehicle access near schools at peak times.
It is for local authorities to determine what measures are appropriate in individual cases as they have the local knowledge and it is right that they focus on the areas of highest risk, which may be where tragic collisions have occurred - but there is nothing to stop them implementing road safety measures elsewhere. The Government expects local authorities to work with local schools, parents, and communities to address concerns about road safety in their local area.