英国政府将斥资20亿英镑鼓励民众骑车和步行

英国首相鲍里斯·约翰逊日前公布了“骑车与步行革命”计划，如果完全实现，将会重塑人们在城镇的出行方式。该计划将耗资20亿英镑（约合人民币184亿元），只在英格兰范围内进行。

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has unveiled plans for a “cycling and walking revolution” that, if fully realized, could recalibrate the way people move around towns and cities.

 

The move comes as authorities attempt to boost public health by capitalizing on people’s renewed interest in travelling by bike and on foot during the coronavirus pandemic.

 

The plans, which are specifically related to England, are to be funded by £2 billion.

 

Wide-ranging in their scope, they include initiatives such as: providing cycling training to children and adults if they want it; developing an extensive network of protected bike routes; and creating “low-traffic neighbourhoods.”

 

In addition, the UK government will pilot a project in some areas of “poor health rates” to encourage doctors to prescribe cycling to patients through a bike lending scheme.

 

The government released 50,000 vouchers worth £50 to enable cyclists in England to repair their bikes and get them back on the road.

 

In a statement issued on July 28, Johnson described cycling and walking as having “a huge role to play in tackling some of the biggest health and environmental challenges that we face.”

 

Xavier Brice, the CEO of Sustrans, a charity focused on cycling and walking, said the new plans marked “a big step forward” by the government.

 

"By helping more people to leave the car at home for shorter journeys, this package of measures will cut pollution, tackle the causes of poor health, and improve the safety of our streets,” he added.

 

The coronavirus pandemic has already had a significant impact on the way people move about towns and cities. Public transport use in the UK has fallen dramatically, while some parts of the country have changed their layout to make it easier for people to get around by bike or by walking.

 

In the UK capital, for example, the “Streetspace for London” program has seen sidewalks widened and temporary bike lanes installed.

 

Johnson's announcement follows on from the government releasing details of a new obesity strategy on July 27. This includes plans to ban online and television ads for “unhealthy” food before 9:00 pm and the scrapping of buy one get one free offers for foods with high sugar and fat content.

 

 

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