A high level cycle visit to the Netherlands and business opportunities in the UK.
Active travel is an important part of the green recovery plans of the British government and it has boosted the mobility transition to greener means of transport and active travel (walking and cycling).
In August a British delegation of national policy makers lead by Department for Transport Minister Trudy Harrison, responsible for active travel, went for cycle study visit to the Netherlands. Led by the Dutch Cycling Embassy’s very knowledgeable experts, the delegation, consisting of officials of active travel team from the Department for Transport and newly created agency Active Travel England, were give a practical insight into the way cycling is an integral part of Dutch life and how it is facilitated and stimulated. The three day study visit consisted of meetings with the Dutch Cycle Team at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management (Ministerie van I&W) and State secretary Vivianne Heijnen and a tour of The Hague by Alderman Robert van Asten. This followed by a day in cycle cities Utrecht and Houten and ending with a tour of Rotterdam.
The UK is very much looking to the Netherlands for the way we have organised and integrated cycling and mobility into our urban planning and society. Dutch knowledge and experience in regard to cycling, infrastructure, urban design and planning are therefore in great demand. With the increased ambition in these areas, more funding is made available too, to facilitate higher levels of active travel and indeed cycling.
A new funding round for English local authorities for active travel is expected to be announced in September. A great reason to join the trade mission to the UK that will take place on 18-19 October 2022. Please find more information here.