Promoting cycling in England

This week David Cameron announced a major drive to promote cycling in England’s major cities and National Parks, supported by a £94m injection of public money.1-4

£77m will split between Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham, Newcastle, Bristol, Cambridge, Oxford and Norwich to help improve existing cycle networks and pay for new ones. In addition, four national parks – New Forest, Peak District, South Downs and Dartmoor – will receive £17m between them. The Prime Minister said the government 'wants to make it easier and safer for people who already cycle as well as encouraging far more people to take it up'.

The majority of the money is targeted at infrastructure improvements and engineering interventions, including improved junctions, signals and cycle lanes. Evidence on the effects of such interventions is sparse, though one good quality systematic review has reported that improving and extending cycle routes might result in an uptake in cycling, albeit based upon a single study.5

The announcement also proposed measures to remove red tape for any local authorities wanting to introduce 20 mph speed restrictions. Here the evidence seems to be more clear, with review-level evidence showing that speed-limit zones can be effective in reducing personal accidents and injuries to cyclists.6-8

In a week with yet more alarming reports on the nation's apparent aversion to physical exertion,9,10 perhaps now really is the time for us to get on our bikes.

References

  1. Government shifts cycling up a gear

    https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-shifts-cycling-up-a-gear?dm_i=6EB,1RI71,1572HF,6AE0L,1

  2. Cycling revolution shifts into top gear

    http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/cyclesafety/article3840260.ece

  3. Cycling groups welcome announcement of £77m government fund

    http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2013/aug/12/cycling-groups-welcome-government-fund?CMP=twt_gu

  4. Cycling gets £94m push in England

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23657010

  5. Promoting walking and cycling as an alternative to using cars: a systematic review.

    http://www.crd.york.ac.uk/crdweb/ShowRecord.asp?AccessionNumber=12004008677&UserID=0#.Ug4uk5KG2So

  6. Transport interventions promoting safe cycling and walking: evidence briefing

    http://www.crd.york.ac.uk/crdweb/ShowRecord.asp?AccessionNumber=32007000060&UserID=0#.Ug43j5KG2So

  7. What works in preventing unintentional injuries in children and young adolescents: an updated systematic review

    http://www.crd.york.ac.uk/crdweb/ShowRecord.asp?AccessionNumber=12003008511&UserID=0#.Ug45t5KG2So

  8. Area-wide traffic calming for preventing traffic related injuries

    http://www.crd.york.ac.uk/crdweb/ShowRecord.asp?AccessionNumber=10000003110&UserID=0#.Ug45j5KG2So

  9. 'Nearly 80% do not exercise enough'

    http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/418916/Nearly-80-do-not-exercise-enough

  10. Unhealthy lifestyles will see British children die before their parents

    http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/unhealthy-lifestyles-will-see-british-children-die-before-their-parents-8757812.html

Page last updated: 19 August, 2013