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North East urged to be cycling champions

The North East is being encouraged to join a national cycling revolution. The Secretary of State for Transport, Ruth Kelly, invited towns and cities across the region to bid for a £140m fund to help people rediscover their bikes.

The drive to boost cycling will create more opportunities for exercise as well as helping to tackle road congestion and improve air quality. The money will be invested over the next three years and forms part of the Government’s forthcoming Obesity Strategy.

Authorities across the North East could help get more people on their bikes by becoming ‘Cycling Demonstration Towns’, or offering local children the chance to be cycle trained.

Ruth Kelly said: “This new money represents a great opportunity for the North East to join the cycling revolution. By getting more people on their bikes, we can help tackle congestion and pollution, as well as helping promote health and fitness opportunities. “Bikeability training and Cycling Demonstration Towns have proven a great success so far and I want to see more. I hope North East authorities will take advantage of the funding I’ve announced today, so we see more local children trained and equipped to cycle safely and responsibly, and more North East towns joining Darlington to become centres of excellence in promoting cycling.”

Phillip Darnton, Chairman of Cycling England said: “Cycling England has produced compelling evidence to show that increased and sustained levels of investment in cycling can make a substantial impact. “We are delighted that the Government has acted and believe today’s announcement will make a real difference to the way we travel - to school, work and the station. “The bicycle really does have a role in helping meet England’s transport challenges. It is now taking its place as a proper mode of transport.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .