Ambitious plans to install thousands of miles of bike lanes in England in a drive to make the nation fitter must not be at the expense of kerbside deliveries, Logistics UK has urged.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has pledged £2bn to transform road infrastructure and build protected cycle routes in towns and cities.
But Logistics UK said the plans must be implemented with consideration to the needs of hauliers: “Without deliveries, businesses in cities and towns will not receive the goods and services they need to trade and get back on their feet after the effects of the pandemic,” said Natalie Chapman, head of urban policy at Logistics UK - formerly the FTA.
“Any new road layouts must be planned very carefully and provide adequate access to roads and kerbsides for logistics vehicles.
“With more reallocation of road space to accommodate cyclists, it is vital that government encourages local authorities to ease restrictions around off peak and night time deliveries and schemes such as the London Lorry Control Scheme are fundamentally reviewed and reformed; this would ensure shops and businesses receive the stocks they need in order to return to full trading, as well as maximising the use of limited road space.”
