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Invest more in cycling and walking schemes, says Boardman and Burnham | Invest more in cycling and walking schemes, says Boardman and Burnham |
(2 days later) | |
Olympic cycling champion Chris Boardman has joined Greater Manchester's mayor in asking the government to invest in a national cycling and walking network. | Olympic cycling champion Chris Boardman has joined Greater Manchester's mayor in asking the government to invest in a national cycling and walking network. |
Mr Boardman and Andy Burnham want the government to follow Greater Manchester's example of spending £160m on green infrastructure projects. | Mr Boardman and Andy Burnham want the government to follow Greater Manchester's example of spending £160m on green infrastructure projects. |
They said a "real alternative to driving" would boost public health as well as cut congestion and pollution. | They said a "real alternative to driving" would boost public health as well as cut congestion and pollution. |
The Department for Transport (DfT) said it was investing £2bn in cycling. | |
Mr Boardman, who won gold at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, was appointed Greater Manchester's first Cycling and Walking Commissioner in 2017. | Mr Boardman, who won gold at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, was appointed Greater Manchester's first Cycling and Walking Commissioner in 2017. |
He said cycling and walking currently only receive about 1% of the government's transport budget. | He said cycling and walking currently only receive about 1% of the government's transport budget. |
At a Transport Select Committee meeting in Manchester, Mr Boardman suggested cycling and walking schemes should receive the same amount of money as the roads budget. | At a Transport Select Committee meeting in Manchester, Mr Boardman suggested cycling and walking schemes should receive the same amount of money as the roads budget. |
He said: "This isn't about people riding bikes, it's about creating healthier, better places to live, more economically robust areas, revitalising town centres and giving people a real and attractive alternative to driving. | He said: "This isn't about people riding bikes, it's about creating healthier, better places to live, more economically robust areas, revitalising town centres and giving people a real and attractive alternative to driving. |
"By the government's own calculations, money invested in enabling people to cycle and walk is the most efficient transport spend that a nation can make." | "By the government's own calculations, money invested in enabling people to cycle and walk is the most efficient transport spend that a nation can make." |
'Congested roads, polluted air' | |
In June last year, Greater Manchester unveiled a £28m cycling network, called 'Beeline' routes. | In June last year, Greater Manchester unveiled a £28m cycling network, called 'Beeline' routes. |
The new routes would include six miles (10km) of Dutch-style cycle lanes that are separated from motor traffic. | The new routes would include six miles (10km) of Dutch-style cycle lanes that are separated from motor traffic. |
Mr Burnham said: "Successive governments have treated cycling and walking as an afterthought. | Mr Burnham said: "Successive governments have treated cycling and walking as an afterthought. |
"This cannot continue at a time when we've got congested roads, polluted air, and high levels of physical inactivity." | "This cannot continue at a time when we've got congested roads, polluted air, and high levels of physical inactivity." |
He said there was a "huge appetite" for a national cycling and walking network but the government needs to show the "same ambition" as Greater Manchester. | He said there was a "huge appetite" for a national cycling and walking network but the government needs to show the "same ambition" as Greater Manchester. |
A DfT spokeswoman said: "As we set out in our Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy, we want to make cycling and walking the natural choice for short journeys. | |
"This is why we're investing around £2bn in cycling over the course of this Parliament, with the aim of improving air quality and reducing obesity." |
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