Cycling towns work!

cycle_town_logo Recently-published results from the first six Cycling Demonstration Towns show that for the first time in the UK outside London, the national trend of a gradual decline in cycling numbers has been reversed. The average increase in cycling across the six towns was 27% between 2005-2009.

More adults are cycling (it's not just the same people cycling more!); more children are cycling to school; and fewer people are classed as physically inactive in these towns - making it easier to cycle is appealing to a group of people who don't take part in other physical activities.

If these trends continue the cycling towns will double their levels of cycling over 10 years, matching the increase seen in London in 2001-9.

Full details of the results from the first six towns are on the Cycling England website.

If you would like to contribute your own experience to the evaluation of progress in Shrewsbury, please get in touch. Contact Emma Bullard on 01743 255435 or email cycle.shrewsbury@shropshire.gov.uk.