http://www.gnn.gov.uk/environment/fullDetail.asp?ReleaseID=346231&NewsAreaID=2
Monday 21 January 2008 09:08
Department for Transport (National)
Ruth Kelly launches £140million cycling fund
Cycle Training Provision for Half a Million Children by 2012
A record £140million Government investment in cycling, announced by
Ruth Kelly, Secretary of State for Transport today, is set to help
half a million children cycle safely and a generation of adults
rediscover their bikes.
This ambitious new drive to boost cycling will help to tackle road
congestion and improve air quality as well as create more
opportunities for exercise. It fulfils a commitment to increase
investment in sustainable transport initiatives, outlined in the
recent strategy document, 'Towards a Sustainable Transport System'.
The money will be invested over the next three years and forms part of
the Government's forthcoming strategy to tackle obesity.
The six-fold increase in funding will:
* allow an extra 500,000 10 year-olds across England to take part in
Bikeability cycle training by 2012, equipping them to cycle safely and
responsibly
* build another 250 Safe Links to Schools, connecting around 500 more
schools to the National Cycle Network. Many schools with links have
already doubled the number of pupils cycling to school.
* create up to a further 10 Cycling Demonstration Towns in England, as
well as the first large Demonstration City. This will mean nearly 3
million people will have the chance to benefit from best practice and
promotion of cycling.
Ruth Kelly, Secretary of State for Transport said:
"Cycling brings many benefits, both for the individual in terms of
health and fitness and for the local community as it helps tackle
congestion and improve local air quality.
"Being able to cycle safely is an important life skill and I want to
give more children the opportunity to do it and encourage more adults
to reach for their bikes.
"By 2012, I expect 500,000 more children to have been able to learn
the necessary skills so that they cycle safely and responsibly. This
will give parents reassurance that their children are suitably
equipped to use the roads and enjoy their bikes.
"The results of both Bikeability and Cycle Demonstration Towns are
hugely impressive and prove that by providing the right facilities and
support more people are willing to get on their bikes. For example,
Darlington has quadrupled the proportion of children cycling to
school. Aylesbury has also seen a five-fold increase in residents
using a bike as one of their two main means of transport in the last
two years.
"That is why think it is right to expand this project so we encourage
healthier lifestyles and more sustainable communities."
Alan Johnson, Secretary of State for Health said:
"This significant Government commitment to promoting active travel
will
have a positive impact on the health and well-being of children and
young
people across the country.
"We know that children and young people need to be moderately active
for at least an hour every day. While schools are successfully
increasing the amount of sport and other physical activities pupils
take part in, it is essential that young people do more beyond the
school gates. Cycling or walking to and from school is an excellent
way to keep active as well as helping to install a culture of exercise
for adult life."
Ed Balls, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, said:
"I want children and young people out and about learning to travel
safely and independently to school and to other activities. If
children can cycle safely to school it will help tackle obesity, keep
kids active and help protect the environment.
"Bikeability is already popular and successful and this new funding
will help more pupils to get the qualification and make sure parents
can be reassured their children are safe.
"As I said in the Children's Plan we want to encourage more outdoor
activities and cycling can be an important part of healthy living
which is something we all need to teach children, at home as well as
in the classroom.
"We need to put healthy lifestyles back where they belong in every
part of a child's day. This is a positive start towards reducing the
long-term consequences of childhood obesity - establishing good habits
from early on ensures a solid basis for children to enjoy their
childhood."
The funding package will go to Cycling England, the body set up by
Government to promote cycling, to continue their successful work.
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 expansion of Bikeability training
will give the next generation the skills and confidence to ride on
today's roads.
"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."
Notes to Editors
1. The full breakdown of funding over the next three years is:
2008/09 - £20million
2009/10 - £60million
2010/11 - £60million
1. Of the £140million total funding, £110million is new as Government
funding for Cycling England is already £10million a year. The package
includes a contribution from the Department of Health in recognition
of cycling's role in helping build the recommended levels of activity
into people's daily lives. This contribution will be targeted towards
areas with high levels of obesity.
2. This programme of funding has been influenced by the very good
value for money which cycling projects exhibit. The economic research
Cycling England commissioned from consultants SQW is available on
Cycling England's website: http://www.cyclingengland.co.uk
3. The Cycling Demonstration Town programme costs £2.8m a year for 6
Cycling Demonstration Towns (Aylesbury, Brighton, Darlington, Derby,
Exeter and Lancaster with Morecombe) to showcase best practice in
promoting cycling for other areas to learn from.
4. Cycling England will be seeking bids for the new Cycle
Demonstration Towns and City in spring 2008/9. Following a period of
planning, the major investment will begin the following year.
5. The Bikeability scheme is a new training standard designed to
provide children with the on-road skills they need to handle modern
traffic conditions. It was launched in March 2007. See
http://www.bikeability.org.uk