Wales pedalling behind England on cycling investment

2.30.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 19th Jun 2008

As the Westminster Government announces a £100 million investment in 12 new cycling demonstration towns in England, Wales has been left further behind with WAG failing to invest in even a single cycling demonstration town in the nation.

Today's funding, which will bring the total number of cycling towns in England to 18, is aimed at encouraging 2.5 million more people to take up cycling, improve their fitness and beat the traffic jams during. The news comes in the midst of National Bike Week 2008, which seeks to get people out of their cars and onto their bikes.

In 2007/08 the WAG spent a measly 4% of the transport budget on Integrating local transport, walking and cycling.

Kirsty Williams AM, Welsh Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Transport, said: "Cycling demonstration towns are a Welsh Lib Dem manifesto commitment and we believe they are essential in the move towards a sustainable transport network across Wales.

"In view of the clear successes over the border and despite great pressure, it is disappointing that the WAG has not proposed funding for a cycling demonstration town in Wales despite a new Transport Minister and a new and much talked-up Transport Strategy, which professes to be sustainable.

"A cycling demonstration town would receive increased funding to allow it to develop a comprehensive cycle network, and improve signage and parking for cyclists, as well as improve cycle training and increase the promotion of cycling as a transport mode.

"Cycling has proven health benefits and cuts carbon emissions - but WAG must make it easier for people to pick up their bikes particularly in our hilly country and investment in demonstration towns is a good move in the right direction.

"We need a dedicated fund to invest in improving cycling infrastructure and encourage towns across the country to be more cycle-friendly. Large scale bicycle rental programmes such as the 'Cyclocity' scheme running successfully in Paris, and for many years in Germany are a good example to follow. We need to see councils including proposals in their transport and development policies for increased cycle infrastructure but they will need the support of WAG to facilitate this.

"Over 60% of the journeys we make in Wales are less than 5 miles, and whilst under the current unacceptable public transport system cars inevitably play a role particularly in rural areas, we can do our bit by trying to walk or cycle these shorter trips. I am confident that by making it safer and easier for people to choose to cycle, we can encourage more people to get on their bikes and create a fitter, healthier and cleaner Wales."

Ends/Diwedd

Notes:

Between 1975/76 and 2005 the total cycling mileage per person per year in the UK fell by 29%.

65% of UK cycle trips are commuter trips to work or school.

The 12 cycling demonstration towns in England are: Bristol, York, Stoke, Blackpool, Cambridge, Chester, Colchester, Leighton Buzzard, Southend, Shrewsbury, Southport and Woking - have been named as demonstration areas for the scheme.

They will be added to the current six demonstration areas - Aylesbury, Brighton, Darlington, Derby, Exeter and Lancaster.

National Bike Week 2008 runs from 14th-22nd of June. For more information on national bike week: http://www.bikeweek.org.uk/

The Lib Dems Pre-Election 2007 Manifesto states:

Promote cycling by establishing a pilot cycling demonstration town and invite bids from across the country to host it, with the aim of rolling it out at a later date. This area would then receive increased funding to complete missing links in the existing cycle network, improve signage and parking, improve training and extensive promotion of cycling as a transport mode