“Confidence is key to getting more people cycling”: Build more safe bike lanes to reduce congestion and public transport pressure, hire bike chief urges

A recent call from the UK's micromobility commissioner, Andrew Brem, highlighted the critical need for more dedicated cycling infrastructure. Brem, speaking to road.cc, asserted that building safe bike lanes is paramount to boosting public confidence, thereby reducing urban congestion and easing pressure on public transport. His vision posits micromobility as a flexible, affordable solution capable of getting millions more people cycling.

This intervention arrives as urban centers grapple with post-pandemic transport shifts and persistent environmental targets. Brem's background as a former British Airways executive and his current role overseeing the UK's burgeoning e-scooter trials lend weight to his advocacy. The argument for dedicated infrastructure isn't new, but its reiteration by a government-appointed official underscores a growing recognition that fragmented, often perilous, cycling routes are a significant barrier to wider adoption, despite the clear benefits of active travel.

Ultimately, Brem's message is a familiar echo: if you build it *safely*, they will come. The challenge, as ever, lies in translating this common-sense wisdom into concrete policy and, more importantly, asphalt.