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| Will a £50 bike repair voucher get Wellingborough cycling? | Will a £50 bike repair voucher get Wellingborough cycling? |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| The government is to introduce £50 bike repair vouchers to encourage cycling. But what difference will it make in places where people don't already cycle? | The government is to introduce £50 bike repair vouchers to encourage cycling. But what difference will it make in places where people don't already cycle? |
| When it comes to cycling, Wellingborough doesn't exactly lay out the red Tarmac. | When it comes to cycling, Wellingborough doesn't exactly lay out the red Tarmac. |
| "I can't actually think of where the places to lock up your bikes are in town," says mental health nurse Joey Woodage. | "I can't actually think of where the places to lock up your bikes are in town," says mental health nurse Joey Woodage. |
| She has just driven to the outskirts - then walked the rest of the way. | She has just driven to the outskirts - then walked the rest of the way. |
| "It's really over-populated in terms of car traffic here," she adds. | "It's really over-populated in terms of car traffic here," she adds. |
| "But there's also a complicated one-way system which is just not designed to facilitate cyclists. From where I live I can't cycle - it would be down a dual carriageway." | "But there's also a complicated one-way system which is just not designed to facilitate cyclists. From where I live I can't cycle - it would be down a dual carriageway." |
| According to government statistics, the Northamptonshire town is bottom of the England league team when it comes to walking and cycling. | According to government statistics, the Northamptonshire town is bottom of the England league team when it comes to walking and cycling. |
| Hot on the heels of its obesity strategy, the government is trying to coax England back on two feet - and two wheels. | Hot on the heels of its obesity strategy, the government is trying to coax England back on two feet - and two wheels. |
| An initial 50,000 vouchers will be made available online on a first-come, first-served basis. Bikes will also be made available on the NHS. | An initial 50,000 vouchers will be made available online on a first-come, first-served basis. Bikes will also be made available on the NHS. |
| Across the land, families are dusting off fossilised frames, pumping up tyres and testing brakes in earnest. | Across the land, families are dusting off fossilised frames, pumping up tyres and testing brakes in earnest. |
| Not so much in Wellingborough. But is there a way forward? | Not so much in Wellingborough. But is there a way forward? |
| Chris Francis, who works in insurance and lives within five miles of the town, is already a convert to pedal power. | Chris Francis, who works in insurance and lives within five miles of the town, is already a convert to pedal power. |
| He gets on his bike every day "for the fitness, but also because it's just easier to get around." | He gets on his bike every day "for the fitness, but also because it's just easier to get around." |
| But he says it is not a pleasant experience. | But he says it is not a pleasant experience. |
| "Wellingborough is horrendous for cyclists," says Mr Francis. "Drivers are not vigilant towards us, and the council's cycle paths are half-hearted, stopping in certain places altogether." | "Wellingborough is horrendous for cyclists," says Mr Francis. "Drivers are not vigilant towards us, and the council's cycle paths are half-hearted, stopping in certain places altogether." |
| He believes the voucher scheme has "potential", but only for existing cyclists. | He believes the voucher scheme has "potential", but only for existing cyclists. |
| "Wellingborough is a low-income town. Where's the support? Even with £800 you can't source a good bike. You have to make it affordable. | "Wellingborough is a low-income town. Where's the support? Even with £800 you can't source a good bike. You have to make it affordable. |
| "The voucher is nice - but only if you have a bike in the first place." | "The voucher is nice - but only if you have a bike in the first place." |
| Mr Francis says he feels "lucky" that he was able to get a bike through the government's cycle-to-work scheme, which allows him to get around quicker. | Mr Francis says he feels "lucky" that he was able to get a bike through the government's cycle-to-work scheme, which allows him to get around quicker. |
| "The amount of dirty looks and people who judge you for cycling is quite bad. But we need to break down the stigma here." | "The amount of dirty looks and people who judge you for cycling is quite bad. But we need to break down the stigma here." |
| Wellingborough is known as a medieval market town steeped in Anglo-Saxon history, with a church dating from 1160. It's also name-checked in the Domesday Book. | Wellingborough is known as a medieval market town steeped in Anglo-Saxon history, with a church dating from 1160. It's also name-checked in the Domesday Book. |
| But it's also a town with sporting pedigree. | But it's also a town with sporting pedigree. |
| It's the birthplace of snooker world champion Peter Ebdon - as well as fellow snooker stars Rory McLeod and Jamie O'Neill. | It's the birthplace of snooker world champion Peter Ebdon - as well as fellow snooker stars Rory McLeod and Jamie O'Neill. |
| It has football teams, a rugby team and one of the UK's biggest basketball clubs, Wellingborough Phoenix. | It has football teams, a rugby team and one of the UK's biggest basketball clubs, Wellingborough Phoenix. |
| On top of that, it is home to the annual International Waendel Walk, which has seen thousands of ramblers snaking through the borough every May for more than 40 years. | On top of that, it is home to the annual International Waendel Walk, which has seen thousands of ramblers snaking through the borough every May for more than 40 years. |
| However, there was little evidence of cycling in the streets on the day of the government's announcement. | However, there was little evidence of cycling in the streets on the day of the government's announcement. |
| Wellingborough is typical of small towns throughout England, with its brick tiled market - in the shadow of All Hallows' Church - beyond its heyday. | Wellingborough is typical of small towns throughout England, with its brick tiled market - in the shadow of All Hallows' Church - beyond its heyday. |
| Despite the draw of out-of-town shopping parks like Rushden Lakes, The Swansgate is the county's second biggest shopping centre. | |
| Cycling UK, which has a five-year strategy to get more people on their bikes, says cycling levels in most parts of the country remain "stubbornly low". Only 2% of people regularly make trips by bike, according to the charity. | Cycling UK, which has a five-year strategy to get more people on their bikes, says cycling levels in most parts of the country remain "stubbornly low". Only 2% of people regularly make trips by bike, according to the charity. |
| The biggest barrier to cycling and walking for people in the UK, it says, is "the feeling that it's not safe and easy". | The biggest barrier to cycling and walking for people in the UK, it says, is "the feeling that it's not safe and easy". |
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| Wellingborough - with a population of 50,000 - has 2,500 registered businesses. But only one independent cycle shop. | Wellingborough - with a population of 50,000 - has 2,500 registered businesses. But only one independent cycle shop. |
| Cycling, it appears, is not a thing here. | Cycling, it appears, is not a thing here. |
| Chris Airby, 65, loves nothing more than taking border collie Holly on a daily walk around the town. | Chris Airby, 65, loves nothing more than taking border collie Holly on a daily walk around the town. |
| "I don't cycle, not at all, not at my age," he says. | "I don't cycle, not at all, not at my age," he says. |
| "It's a decent idea to get people more active, but maybe a better thing would be some kind of sugar tax to nudge people in the right direction to eat more healthily. | "It's a decent idea to get people more active, but maybe a better thing would be some kind of sugar tax to nudge people in the right direction to eat more healthily. |
| "There's not an awful lot of provision for cyclists round here, like cycle lanes or places for kids to cycle safely." | "There's not an awful lot of provision for cyclists round here, like cycle lanes or places for kids to cycle safely." |
| Derek Balmer, 83, has chosen to cycle in to town for a spot of shopping because "you can get closer to the shops, it's easier". But it was not without its perils. | Derek Balmer, 83, has chosen to cycle in to town for a spot of shopping because "you can get closer to the shops, it's easier". But it was not without its perils. |
| "There's too much traffic, it's dangerous," he says. | "There's too much traffic, it's dangerous," he says. |
| "The potholes are terrible. It's very frightening sometimes." | "The potholes are terrible. It's very frightening sometimes." |
| But there may be good news ahead for the town's cycling prowess, with a possible gear change imminent. | But there may be good news ahead for the town's cycling prowess, with a possible gear change imminent. |
| The borough council says its "network of cycle ways" is "currently being considered for improvement". | The borough council says its "network of cycle ways" is "currently being considered for improvement". |
| And on Friday, the town will stage its first "Critical Mass" ride - a meet-up of enthusiasts that organisers hope will enhance the sport locally. | And on Friday, the town will stage its first "Critical Mass" ride - a meet-up of enthusiasts that organisers hope will enhance the sport locally. |
| "Wellingborough is not a nice place to cycle," says Samuel Shoesmith, an avid rider. | "Wellingborough is not a nice place to cycle," says Samuel Shoesmith, an avid rider. |
| "There is a worry that local councils won't listen, but this will push forward a radical change to the way people get about. | "There is a worry that local councils won't listen, but this will push forward a radical change to the way people get about. |
| "For decades there hasn't been any move towards any investment here." | "For decades there hasn't been any move towards any investment here." |
| Mr Goldsmith, an NHS worker, has organised Friday's event as a direct call to the council to "make cycling and walking better." | Mr Goldsmith, an NHS worker, has organised Friday's event as a direct call to the council to "make cycling and walking better." |
| "There is still a need to protest," he says. | "There is still a need to protest," he says. |
| "This is an opportunity to make everyone realise there is a need for better infrastructure. It'll be a ride around to protest - but more to celebrate - cycling and its wonders. | "This is an opportunity to make everyone realise there is a need for better infrastructure. It'll be a ride around to protest - but more to celebrate - cycling and its wonders. |
| "This is a call for change." | "This is a call for change." |
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