News release: Bike to the future : Have your say

news
release

On Friday 27th January, Love Your Bike are inviting people to join one of the Bike Friday ‘cycle to work’ rides to promote the many benefits of cycling: saving money, getting there quicker, losing weight, getting fitter and reducing congestion and air pollution. [1]

Love Your Bike will also be encouraging people to respond to Manchester City Council’s “Interim Strategy for Cycling in Manchester” consultation on how to make Manchester a “World Class Cycling City”. They can go to www.loveyourbike.org to find out how to respond. [2]

Love Your Bike’s detailed response will encourage Manchester City Council to set ambitious and achievable targets for improving cycling levels and facilities across the Manchester region. [3]

Love Your Bike are calling on Manchester City Council to:

* introduce a 20mph speed limit in all residential areas to help make the roads safer for cycling and walking. [4]

* set an ambitious and achievable long term goal for cycling levels: 20% of Greater Manchester journeys under 5 miles by bike by 2020.

* work with Transport for Greater Manchester to fully integrate cycling into the public transport system.

* provide free on-road adult cycle training courses for people who live or work in Manchester.

Graeme Sherriff from Love Your Bike said: “Cycling can help people save money, get exercise and feel healthier. Manchester City Council needs a bold cycling strategy to provide the cycling facilities and infrastructure to encourage and support more people to cycle, more often.”

The Bike Friday event provides a range of cycle rides into the City Centre from various locations across Manchester and works with companies and local authorities in Greater Manchester to promote cycling, improve cycle facilities and encourage more people to cycle to school, work and for leisure all year round.

ENDS

CONTACTS FOR COMMENTS
Pete Abel, Love Your Bike campaign. Mobile: 07951 642858

Catherine Thomson, Manchester Friends of the Earth, joint co-ordinator Mobile: 07956 577206.

Notes to Editors:

[1] The Bike Friday cycle rides start at 8am from Chorlton Library, Levenshulme Station, Prestwich Pizza Express, Stretford Mall and Withington Library and finish at approx 8.30am by The Titchy Coffee Co, High Street, Manchester City Centre, M4 1EY.  The Bike Friday cycle rides take place on the morning of the last Friday of every month (except December). The rides go a moderate pace, have experienced ride leaders, are entirely law-abiding and can help people develop more confidence in their cycling abilities. Bike Friday is part of the Love Your Bike Campaign.  New Bike Friday route. Worsley, Monton, Salford to Manchester City Centre. Start time 7.40am.   For details of the routes see: www.bikefriday.org or join the Bike Friday Facebook group www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=99198337652

[2] The consultation deadline is 31st January 2012. The consultation document is not available on the Manchester City Council website but can be accessed via www.loveyourbike.org

[3] The full Love Your Bike consultation response will be available on www.loveyourbike.org from 31st January.

[4]  The ‘Infrastructure and cyclist safety’ report, published by the Department for Transport highlights that the 53% of cyclists fatalities and 78% of serious injuries occurred in 30mph speed limits compared to 1% in 20mph areas.  The report concluded that “Of all interventions to increase cycle safety, the strongest evidence is for the benefits resulting from reduction in motorised vehicle speed”. Page 16  www.trl.co.uk/online_store/reports_publications/trl_reports/cat_road_user_safety/report_infrastructure_and_cyclist_safety.htm

Research published by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2008 showed that at 30mph a pedestrian hit by a vehicle travelling at 50kmh (31mph) has an 85% chance of being killed. At 30 kmh (18mph) the likelihood of being killed decreased dramatically to 5%.

[5] Bike Friday is coordinated by Love Your Bike (Manchester Friends of the Earth) and Greater Manchester Cycling Campaign (GMCC)

Love Your Bike is an award winning Manchester based campaign aiming to promote cycling and help make it an even more attractive, accessible and fun way to get around. Co-ordinated by Manchester Friends of the Earth, the campaign works in partnership with other like-minded organisations.  See www.loveyourbike.org
In December,  Love Your Bike group were winners of the 2011 Be Proud “Green Futures” award for their pioneering work encouraging people across Manchester to live a healthier and more environmentally friendly lifestyle by leaving their cars at home.