MPs urged to support national ‘Vote for Cycling’

Greater Manchester MPs urged to support national ‘Vote for Cycling’

On Friday 30 August, Love Your Bike and Greater Manchester Cycling Campaign
(GMCC) are inviting Manchester’s MPs to join a Bike Friday cycle ride and help ‘Get
Britain Cycling’.

MPs will have the opportunity to debate the ‘Get Britain Cycling’ report in the House of
Commons Chamber on Monday 2 September and show their support for measures to encourage more people to cycle. Earlier this year, the All Party Parliamentary Cycling
Group (APPCG) took evidence from a range of cycling advocacy organisations, academics, transport planners and government departments to answer the question, “how can we get Britain cycling?”.

The APPCG published the ‘Get Britain Cycling’ report in April which included 18 recommendations to Government, including: 

• Ensuring that cycling is designed into all future roads, junctions and relevant
  transport policies 
• 20mph speed limits in urban areas and lower speed limits on many rural roads 
• All children to be given the chance to learn the skills of road cycling, at primary and
  secondary school 
• Government funding on cycling to be £10 per head of the population.

Dr Graeme Sherriff, Manchester Friends of the Earth's Transport campaign co-ordinator 
said: “The government and local councils need to develop longer term strategies and
provide consistent funding to help encourage more people to cycle and to reach
European-style levels of cycling. Love Your Bike is calling on all Greater Manchester MPs to attend the House of Commons debate and show their support for cycling.”

Love Your Bike have created a simple email action for people to encourage their Member of Parliament to attend the ‘Get Britain Cycling’ debate and to support cycling. 

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. 

Dr Sherriff added: "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)."