Cycle Training Provision for Half a Million Children
By 2012 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.
