CIHT’s views on cycle safety and the future management of major roads were broadcast on national television and radio last week.

Within the space of 36 hours transport consultant Phil Jones MCIHT appeared on BBC Breakfast to discuss cycling and External Affairs Board chair Steve Rowsell FCIHT was on BBC Radio 4 talking about highways funding.

Phil Jones had also appeared on the Breakfast programme earlier this month alongside Olympic cyclist Chris Boardman to talk about provision of cycling infrastructure in urban areas.

Phil’s second appearance last Thursday was to discuss making cycling safer in rural areas following Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins’ recent collision with a vehicle. He played down a suggestion that more cycle lanes should be painted on the nearside of main carriageways out in the country. Far better, he said, for cyclists to be routed separately alongside busy roads or for riders to be encouraged on to quieter routes.

Steve Rowsell spoke on the ‘File on 4’ radio programme in a piece about the future funding of major roads. “CIHT recognises there is a need for change,” he said, adding that pension funds or sovereign funds from other countries could be harnessed to invest in the strategic road network. “It may be possible for certain parts of the network to be managed by private sector operators,” he added, “which would require a financial return for those private sector operators either in the form of road tolling or part of the road tax being ring fenced for the operator.”

Links to each of the programmes are available here:

Cycle infrastructure: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p010ww3n

Highways funding: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006th08

Cycle safety in rural areas: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p011ksxl

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