Eleanor Burnham Backs Bike-Friendly Welsh Towns

2.08.00pm GMT Thu 14th Dec 2006

Eleanor Burnham AM today introduced a brand new approach to making Wales a cycle-friendly nation on behalf of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, with her suggestion that Wales establish its first ever cycling demonstration town.

Ms Burnham, Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Member for North Wales, introduced the policy following similar examples set by Scotland and England. The Welsh Liberal Democrats are backing the scheme, which would allow local authorities across Wales to provide city cyclists with free parking for their bikes as well as changing rooms and repair workshops.

Ms Burnham said: "It is clear to me that encouraging more cycling is one of the key ways we have of tackling ever increasing health and congestion problems here in Wales.

"We know that regular cyclists enjoy a fitness level equal to that of a person ten years younger. If we can encourage more people here in Wales to go by bike instead of car, there would be an obvious knock on benefit for our struggling NHS.

"This is aside from the fact that we must take positive action now to cut traffic congestion and pollution in Wales. So far, government schemes have failed to make a real impact on levels of car emissions. In fact, the amount of road traffic in Wales since 1999 has actually increased by 8.4% .

"In Wales, the Welsh Liberal Democrats want to establish a pilot cycling demonstration town and invite bids to host it. The successful town would receive increased funding to take measures such as completing missing links in the existing cycle network, improving signage and parking, improving cycle training and promoting cycling as a great way to travel.

"We will work to establish a fund to roll-out this scheme, which can be accessed by local authorities, towns and community councils, to take appropriate action to promote cycle use in their area.

"If this scheme is successful, we could see more towns in Wales leaving their cars at home and converting to pedal power."

Notes:

Figures quoted come from Sustrans Cymru 2006.

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