Health Business - Cycling England programme increases public health

Cycling England programme increases public health

Cycling Demonstration Towns sees a 126 per cent rise in children cycling to most heavily invested schools.

New statistics show that Cycling England has improved the public’s health in six Cycling Demonstration Towns and has seen a ten per cent reduction in the number of people declared physically inactive.

The research carried out for Cycling England shows that in the first three years of the programme, cycling has increased by an average of 27 per cent in the six towns.

Also, children cycling to school either every day or once or twice a week rose by 126 per cent in the schools where the six towns invested most heavily and the towns have achieved growth rates for cycling similar to the most cycle-friendly European cities, and matched the growth seen in London.

The benefits of the Cycling Demonstration Towns programme have been shown to outweigh the costs, with health benefits making up the largest part of this gain. The reduction in mortality alone is estimated to be worth £45 million over ten years.

Public Health Minister Gillian Merron said: "The Government's cycling towns programme has shown that, by making the environment safer and more supportive for cycling we can improve public health and make exercise a part of our daily lives."

Further information:
Department of Health