Department for Transport
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Government outlines vision for an active England
The Government wants to see access to cycle training for every child, creating a generation of new, safe cyclists according to Transport Minister Sadiq Khan.
This is one of the aims of the 'Active Travel Strategy' - published today - which outlines plans to put walking and cycling at the heart of local transport and public health strategies over the next decade.
The other aims of the strategy include:
- Every major public sector employer to be signed up to the Cycle to Work Guarantee
- Cycle parking at or within easy reach of every public building
- Sufficient secure bike parking at every rail station
- Local authorities introducing 20mph zones and limits into more residential streets to improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists
Transport Minister Sadiq Khan said:
"Active travel means a transport system where walking and cycling become the norm.
"Instead of automatically reaching for their car keys, I want to see people feeling confident enough to jump on their bike or pull on a pair of trainers.
"I am confident that this strategy will achieve this, makingactive travel a genuine and viable option for everybody."
Public Health Minister Gillian Merron said:
"Walking and cycling are two of the easiest ways for people to build regular physical activity into their daily lives – whether it’s riding to work, walking to school or simply having fun.
“This strategy demonstrates that even making small changes can bring about significant health benefits, and helps reinforce the message of the Government’s Change4Life movement, which is helping people to eat well, move more and live longer.”
Today's announcement is supported by a £12.5m package of investment which will secure cycle training for half a million additional school children by 2012.
The funding - which is part of the Government's £140m cycling budget over three years - will be provided to Local Authorities, the Government's Cycling Demonstration Towns, Youth Sport Trust, School Sports Partnerships and cycle trainers.
Also published today are results from an evaluation of the Government's Sustainable Travel Towns project, which aims to showcase towns that put walking, cycling and public transport firmly in the spotlight. Across three towns - Darlington, Peterborough and Worcester – there have been:
- 7% to 9% reductions in car trips
- 26% to 30% increases in cycling trips
- 10% to 13% increases in walking trips
Notes to Editors
1. The Active Travel Strategy is cross-Governmental Strategy, led by Department for Transport and Department of Health, to get more people walking and cycling more often and more safely.
2. The evaluation of the “Sustainable Travel Town” demonstration projects was undertaken by an independent research team to review and assess the actives undertaken in Darlington, Peterborough and Worcester to promote increased walking, cycling and public transport use between 2004 and 2009. The Summary Report of the evaluation can be found at http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/sustainable/smarterchoices/. More detailed analysis of the projects will be made available in the same place in early March.
3. We are also publishing a number of research reports from the first six Cycling Demonstration Towns programme. These are an economic analysis of the programme which indicates that the investment delivered high value for money, a survey of levels of physical activity in the Towns across the programme and a summary of the programmes in each of the six towns. The reports can be found at http://www.dft.gov.uk/cyclingengland/cycling-cities-towns/results/
4. We have announced a further package of measures costing over £12m in 2010-11. We have awarded the following grants:
- £6m to over 90 Local Authorities and Cycle Demonstration Towns;
- £6m to schools through the School Sports Partnerships; and
- £500k for bursary grants to train more trainers to deliver the increases in cycle training delivery.
To date we have funded over 300,000 additional training places. This package has the potential to deliver 300,000 further Bikeability training places in 2010-11 and will help us deliver our target of 500,000 places by 2012 a year early.
Press Enquires: 020 7944 3066 Out of Hours: 020 7944 4292 Public Enquiries: 0300 330 3000 Department for Transport Website: http://www.dft.gov.uk
Contacts:
Local Transport
Phone: 020 7944 3066
nds.dft@coi.gsi.gov.uk
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