Minister for Transport unveils success of district’s cycling project
A £3million investment in cycling in the Lancaster district has seen the number of people using their bikes rise by a quarter – and that’s official!
On Monday (November 9) Transport Minister Sadiq Khan today revealed figures on the success of the country’s six original Cycling Demonstration Towns (CDT).
Lancaster and Morecambe was one of the areas to be given the special status in October 2005 and, along with it, £1.5million in funding to show how increased investment can encourage more people to cycle. This funding was supported by match funding from a variety of sources including Lancashire County Council and the European Regional Development Fund.
For the past three years, Cycling England, the body responsible for increasing cycling levels on behalf of the Department for Transport has been gathering extensive data from the six CDTs to measure progress and evaluate the impact of their cycling strategies.
In Lancaster and Morecambe, this investment saw the number of local people cycling rise by 25%.
This has been thanks to projects including the extension and introduction of both on and off-road cycle routes, improved signage, cycle training, incentives schemes and by working in partnership with major employers and schools to encourage commuting by bike.
Of particular success has been the number of people cycling on the promenade in Morecambe.
The prom was opened up to cyclists in April 2007 and it is already known that there has been a 33% increase in cyclists using this route which was recognised with a prestigious National Transport Award for cycling improvements in August this year.
All these projects have been of benefit to many local people who previously did not see cycling as a viable mode of transport.
Carol Tresadem from Morecambe is one of those people who now regularly cycles thanks to the CDT Project. She explained: "I did use to cycle many years ago but felt safer when I returned to using a car and public transport instead.
“However, I was concerned about my environmental impact, and also wanted to get fitter. Since the launch of the project, I have been left with very few excuses why I shouldn't get back on my bike. With all the help and advice and the ever growing network of off-road paths on offer in the district I scrapped my car and bought myself a new bike.
"Thanks to the project, Lancaster and Morecambe has become a fabulous place to cycle, and using the free information and support now available including one-to-one training, my skills have improved and my confidence has increased to the point where I no longer worry about cycling through traffic."
Coun Jon Barry, Cabinet member with responsibility for the environment at Lancaster City Council, added: “A lot has been achieved since the Cycling Demonstration Project started in 2006 and the success of the project is borne out by these latest figures. As well as being good for your health and the environment, cycling saves money and it’s enjoyable and fun.”
Lancashire County Councillor Keith Young, cabinet member for highways and transport, said: "It is excellent news that the cycling demonstration project in Lancaster has proved so successful and encouraged many more people to use their bikes for both commuting and leisure purposes.
"The project is a very good example of how organisations working in partnership can make a big difference to people's lives.
"It has resulted in a number of new cycling routes in the area, including new links to schools and an upgraded canal towpath offering a continuous high quality cycle and walking route from the south side of Lancaster to Carnforth.
"We are reaping the rewards from a number of initiatives promoting cycling in recent years – for example, over 1,000 cyclists now use Lancaster's Millennium Bridge every day, and 13% of staff at Lancaster University are able to cycle to work."
The Transport Minister also announced the release of the Government's remaining £60million cycling budget for this year to deliver new parking provisions, designated routes and other enhancements aimed at encouraging more people to cycle.
Lancaster and Morecambe are set to benefit from the £10million package having been allocated £200,000 to fund a number of new crossings and the setting up of a bike hire and cycle parking scheme at the University of Cumbria.
Date Published: 11/11/09