Enough with the endless car lanes, let's build proper cycle tracks now.
We need to mandate the creation of genuinely segregated cycle infrastructure on all new and major road-renewal projects. This isn't about painting a white line and calling it a cycle lane; it's about physical separation from motor traffic, like they do so well in the Netherlands. Think protected lanes, not just suggestions.
The current situation is frankly a disgrace. We’re spending billions on infrastructure that prioritises cars, then expecting people to cycle past lorries on busy roads. It’s dangerous and puts off the vast majority of potential cyclists who aren’t looking for an extreme sport. Proper infrastructure would unlock cycling for families, older people, and anyone who values not being flattened.
This would involve reallocating road space, which inevitably means fewer car lanes or narrower ones in some places.
Enough with the car-centric planning, let's build proper cycle routes!
We need a national strategy to build segregated, high-quality cycle paths that connect towns and cities, not just paint a white line on a busy road. This isn't about appeasing a few lycra-clad enthusiasts; it's about creating genuine alternatives to driving for everyday journeys, like going to work or the shops. Think of the Dutch, they don't just dream about cycling, they build the infrastructure for it.
Right now, our streets are designed around the car, making cycling feel dangerous and impractical for most people. This proposal would fund a rolling program of infrastructure development, prioritising routes that offer the greatest potential to shift people out of cars for short to medium distances. We'd focus on creating safe, direct, and continuous networks, separated from traffic wherever possible, just like we'd expect for a new road.
Enough with the subsidies for pointless sheep farming!
I’m sick to death of seeing vast swathes of the Highlands, perfectly good for rewilding or even dense forestry, churned over for sheep that mostly end up as expensive mince. We’re subsidising an industry that is actively detrimental to biodiversity and carbon capture, all for a product we frankly don’t need much of. It’s a pastoral idyll for the wealthy landowners, but a climate disaster for the rest of us.
We need to phase out direct subsidies for sheep farming on land that isn't economically viable for anything else. Instead, those funds should be redirected to incentivise genuine rewilding projects and tree planting on a massive scale. Think about it – carbon sinks, increased biodiversity, more natural habitats. It’s a no-brainer, and frankly, it’s embarrassing how far behind the rest of Europe we are on this.
This isn't about banning farming, it's about smart farming.
What do you think?
Vote on individual policies, adapt them, or write your own alternative. Good ideas should be tested.