DEPARTMENT FOR
TRANSPORT News Release (005) issued by The Government News Network
on 21 January 2008
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
Public Enquiries: 020 7944 8300
Department for Transport
Website: http://www.dft.gov.uk