Cycling, walking and mobility: FAQs for 2020

This paper has been written specifically for Members of Parliament and their staff, though others may find it of general interest.

It is a compilation of regularly asked questions about active travel, particularly cycling. There is no intended link between articles other than that the topics are often the subject of requests by Members, usually on behalf of their constituents.

Please note that as cycling and active travel policy more generally is devolved across the UK this paper largely discusses England only. In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland policy is the responsibility of the devolved administrations and scrutiny the responsibility of the respective parliaments and assemblies.

It covers the following issues:

• The benefits of walking and cycling;
• What the Government is doing to encourage cycling and how much it is spending;
• How safe it is to cycle, and the rules on wearing helmets;
• The laws on cycling and how bad cycling can be prosecuted;
• Shared spaces for walking and liabilities for injuries on pavements;
• What kinds of e-bikes and e-scooters are legal; and
• The rules on using a mobility scooter.

Further details on these issues and more can be found in a suite of Commons Library briefing papers, available on our website.