Calling cycling towns and cities of the future!

October 2007 marks the second anniversary of Cycling England’s 'Cycling Demonstration Towns' project. In 2005, the highway authorities of Aylesbury, Brighton & Hove, Darlington, Derby, Exeter and Lancaster & Morecambe were awarded £17m between them to encourage more people to use two wheels instead of four.

In just two years, the towns have registered increases in cycle trips of up to 66 per cent. It is estimated that around a third of these new cycle trips will be motorists who have swapped their cars for bikes. The Cycling Demonstration Towns (CDTs) are helping amass the evidence to support the strategic, long-term role cycling can play in helping to tackle today’s transport challenges.

Cycling England and the CDTs have learned much in the last few years, both about how to be successful, and equally what does not work effectively. More often than not, it is a combination of schemes, from infrastructure to targeted promotion that makes more cycling a reality.

Cycling England is hosting an event on the 21st November with the Project teams from each of the Demonstration Towns including senior managers and officers to share best practice. The event is for all local authorities interested in seeing how simple, and often inexpensive schemes can boost cycling, and help authorities meet congestion, pollution and public health targets.

Cycling England has submitted its proposed funding strategy for the next four years to 2012 to the Department for Transport. The proposals, called Bike for the Future II, included a significant allocation for cycling towns and cities of the future. Cycling England is looking to the future and at a potential new round of cycling towns and cities, and we will be asking the question at this event - could your authority be a cycling town or city of the future?