These are fascinating times we are living in if you’re into Greening issues. I think the Government actually meant to say it is ‘the most Greening ever’ as, in a sense it has delivered 100% more Greening than the previous administration.
However, Wikipedia defines ‘Greening’ thus;
‘Greening is the process of transforming artifacts such as a space, a lifestyle or a brand image into a more environmentally friendly version (i.e. ‘greening your home’ or ‘greening your office’). The act of greening involves incorporating “green” products and processes into one’s environment, such as the home, work place, and general lifestyle.’
So the Coalition has taken things a bit too literally and transformed a space (The Department for Transport) by putting a Greening in it. I hope the Secretary of State for Transport is settling in to her new role and the Brompton pictured is not neatly folded away collecting dust with the Prime Ministers hybrid bicycle.
Yesterday, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced the Infrastructure Plan. From a transport perspective, it contained yet more Very Big Plans For Britain such as Superspeed Broadband allowing one to see the economy contracting live from an iPhone whilst riding in new railway rolling stock (although a new season ticket will cost about the same as purchasing Wiltshire) or driving on lots more roads and improvements to roads and different funding models for roads and an end to bottlenecks on roads. And widening of roads, of course.
A sane person that knows how to look at a long term plan that actually works might think, ‘well, this could be a wonderful opportunity for cycling infrastructure as it gives an excellent proven rate of return with reduced obesity and greater health and wellbeing and greater freedom of mobility for all ages, classes, genders, colours and creeds and reduced air pollution meaning no more fines from the EU for failing to meet emissions targets and a greater feeling of not just subjective safety from traffic which is the greatest intervention to get the masses cycling but also greater subjective safety in the communities that they are cycling and walking through as more people are out and about accomplishing more than CCTV ever could whilst giving the public peace of mind that we are decreasing our reliance on oil in an ever more volatile market’. It would appear that in times of desperation, sanity is given short shrift.
Cycling features once in the 173 page document –
3.49 The Government’s £560 million Local Sustainable Transport Fund will also help to reduce emissions from vehicles, improve air quality and rural transport connections, by helping local transport authorities do more to encourage walking and cycling, improve public transport and make better connections between different forms of sustainable transport.
I’ve already commented on this before though (as have many others) as its simply retreading old ground so there’s really not much to say other than a superb opportunity has been missed to spend money on infrastructure which if done correctly, could produce an astounding rate of return. It would also make ‘soft measures’ such as cycle training and promotion even better value for money (if that’s possible as much is accomplished already on a shoestring) as the number of new bicycle riders are retained as opposed to someone having training, having a close call with a motorist and putting the bicycle back into the shed until the next Skyride.
It also means a lack of national strategy and cohesion as money is thrown out to the provinces that treat cycling as something that might look nice in a brochure but is really a hindrance to local growth.
So I don’t think this is the Greenest Government ever or the most Greening. Maybe it’s the most Greenery Government ever? Oh no, wait. It looks like the reforms to the Planning system might see more natural habitats destroyed in the wake of unsustainable development.
It ain’t easy trying to be green, or Greening, or greenery.
The Lo Fidelity Bicycle Club 
It was a depressing day. And the fact this Gov’t is also willing to trample on flora and fauna as well says it all.
Your article hits the spot, as so often. I haven’t had the opportunity to read the government’s strategic plans for infrastructure – not that I’ve seen or heard much genuine strategy from this lot or the last, certainly lots of big statements but no coherent big picture. I’m left with the suspicion that the trains will continue to be awkward at best, unfeasible at worst, as a means of long-distance cycle transport – unless you bow to pressure to buy into the folding bike market. Folding bikes are great, I approve of them, but not suitable for lots of things and I object to the attempt to coerce people into becoming convenient for the train companies’ needs when infrastructure should be there to support the actual needs of the people. With the modernisation of trains, we’ve almost completely lost the ‘guards van’ that was a flexible and convenient way to transport a good number of bikes and other things on a ‘roll up’ basis. I’ll be encouraged by these schemes only if this issue is also tackled with a requirement on all train operators to provide a large space for full-size bikes without the need for a reservation.
And yes, the roads….
Keep up the good work!
“although a new season ticket will cost about the same as purchasing Wiltshire”
Worse still, try buying a season ticket from Wiltshire into London, then you could pretty much buy most of south west England!