09/06/04 - Action plan puts cycling well on track

Cumbria County Council's Cabinet has approved a major initiative to get more people into the saddle.   

The Cycling Development Action Plan is based on recommendations from the English Regions Cycling Development Team (ERCDT), a body set up by the Government with the aim of greatly increasing cycling.    

The plan includes objectives such as overhauling the existing cycle infrastructure, agreeing an urban network of cycle routes and continuing effective cycle training in all of Cumbria's schools.   

Cumbria, like all areas of the UK, failed to meet a 2002 target of 4 per cent cycle usage for all journeys. Now it is hoped the approved plan will help meet a new target of 8 per cent by the year 2012. 

The County Council has been working closely with the ERCDT who are promoting number of examples of good practice which, if applied across the country, would greatly increase the amount of cycling. They have also identified widespread problems that prevent local authorities from encouraging cycling and will continue to work the Council in overcoming them.   

Councillor Kevan Wilkinson, Cabinet spokesperson for transport and infrastructure, said: "The benefits of increased cycle use are well documented. As well as improvements in general health and fitness there can be a reduction in traffic congestion, pollution and accidents when there are significant numbers of cyclists.   

"This plan gives us the opportunity to make a real difference. You only have to look to the success stories of other countries, such as Denmark, where cycles are an integral part of daily life.    

"There is no single correct solution to providing a suitable infrastructure for cycling and we have to make sure we incorporate cycling issues into our broader traffic, environmental, planning and economic objectives. One of our first steps has been to establish a cycling development team made up of officers from all areas of the Council. This will ensure a coordinated approach. We are now embarking on the identification and development of safe routes within our key service centres. 

"There are also immense opportunities for tourism to be had from development cycling. The C2C route has been a huge success and this plan contains actions to develop additional circular routes for cyclists of all abilities."   

Copies of the plan will be published and distributed to all key stakeholders in the near future with a request to help in achieving the targets for Cumbria.