Get Manchester cycling – time to show our ambition

news
release

On Friday 26th April, Love Your Bike are inviting people to join one of the Bike Friday cycle routes to show their support for the recommendations in the All Party Parliamentary Cycling Group report ‘Get Britain Cycling’. [1] They can also sign an online e-petition calling on the Prime Minister to support the report’s recommendations. [2]

 The Get Britain Cycling report was published, following extensive public  evidence from over 100 individuals and organisations, including cycling organisations, the Automobile Association, and a wide range of government departments and ministers.

The key aim is to increase cycle use in Britain from less than 2 per cent of journeys in 2011, to 10 per cent of all journeys in 2025, and 25 per cent by 2050. The key recommendations include:

More of the transport budget should be spent on supporting cycling, at a rate initially set to at least £10 per person per year, and increasing as cycling levels increase

Cycling should be considered at an earlier stage in all planning decisions, whether transport schemes or new houses or businesses

More use should be made of segregated cycle lanes, learning from the Dutch experience

Urban speed limits should generally be reduced to 20 mph

Just as children learn to swim at school they should learn to ride a bike

With Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) putting the finishing touches to Manchester’s bid for £20 million Cycle City Ambition Grant funding [3], Love Your Bike is calling on Manchester to match the ambition demonstrated in the ‘Get Britain Cycling’ report and commit to a target of 10% of all journeys made by bicycle by 2025 and to provide funding of at least £10 per person per year to achieve this level of cycling.

Graeme Sherriff, from Manchester Friends of the Earth’s Love Your Bike campaign said:

If we are serious about Getting Manchester Cycling then it is time to show our ambition. Greater Manchester’s bid needs to at least match the national targets for cycling and commit the funding required to achieve this”.

Bike Friday provides a range of cycle rides into the City Centre from various locations into Manchester from various starting places around Greater Manchester and also works with companies and local authorities in Greater Manchester to promote cycling, improve cycle facilities and to encourage more people to continue cycling to school, work and for leisure all year round. [4]

Normally, held on the last Friday of the month, most rides leave at 8am but check the website as they vary depending on the distance from Manchester. Rides finish at the Eastern Bloc coffee shop (5A Stevenson Square, M1 1DN), in Manchester City Centre.

Whether you’re new to cycling, returning to your bike after a break, or cycle every day, join us on Bike Friday. We ride at a moderate pace and have experienced ride leaders. It is entirely law-abiding – we do not try to slow down the traffic. All welcome (bring a bike).

ENDS

CONTACTS FOR COMMENTS

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

Graeme Sherriff, Manchester Friends of the Earth, transport campaign co-ordinator. Mobile: 07948 405071

Notes to Editors:

[1] Get Britain Cycling Summary and Recommendations. See http://allpartycycling.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/get-britain-cycling1.pdf

[2] See www.manchesterfoe.org.uk/getcycling

[3] Cycle City Ambition Grant funding. Deadline for applications: 30th April 2013. See https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cycle-city-ambition-grants

[4] 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 at Eastern Bloc, Stevenson Square, M1 1DN in the Northern Quarter. The Worsley, Middleton – Victoria Avenue East, Stockport Plaza, Mersey Square routes start earlier. See the website for details. 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.

For details of the routes see: www.bikefriday.org or join the Bike Friday Facebook group www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=99198337652

[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