“I declare bicyclists a very rare breed here”: Restore Britain MP Rupert Lowe slams council for installing “very rarely used” cycle lane in his constituency

Rupert Lowe, the lone MP for the Restore Britain party, has publicly lambasted Norfolk County Council over a £500,000 active travel scheme in Gorleston-on-Sea. Returning to the site, Lowe accused the council of "central planning lunacy" for installing a cycle lane he claims is "very rarely used," stating, "I declare bicyclists a very rare breed here." His comments follow the completion of the half-million-pound infrastructure project aimed at promoting active transport.

This isn't Lowe's first foray into local infrastructure critique; he previously gained notoriety for claiming cyclists are a "very rare breed" in his constituency, echoing sentiments often heard from those resistant to active travel initiatives. The £500,000 investment, part of broader government efforts to encourage cycling and walking, highlights the ongoing tension between national policy directives and local political pushback, particularly where perceived usage doesn't immediately justify the cost in the eyes of some elected officials.

Lowe's theatrical pronouncements serve as a potent reminder that even modest cycling infrastructure can become a political football, regardless of its long-term health or environmental benefits. One might almost suspect he prefers the roar of an internal combustion engine to the gentle whir of a bicycle chain.