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The Bristol and Gloucestershire cross-border Cycle City project has been praised for getting more people cycling, more safely, more often.
The project won the Municipal Journal’s Sustainable Infrastructure Achievement of the Year Award, fighting off five other shortlisted projects.
The South West-set project has seen the creation and marketing of new, high quality cycle paths in the area. The project has not only allowed people to get to their destinations faster, for less money, but delivered that with a lessened environmental impact.
Bristol was the first ‘Cycling Demonstration Town’ in a programme spearheaded by the now axed Cycling England.
“This award is a fantastic achievement for the city, illustrating just how much momentum Greater Bristol’s Cycling City project is now generating,” enthused Dr Jon Rogers, Bristol City Council’s exec for Cycling City. “Over the last two years Bristol has received a number of accolades praising the transformation of its cycling culture and infrastructure.
“This is matched by the doubling and trebling of numbers on some of the city’s cycling routes. The Municipal Journal award recognises several years of commitment and hard work by council officers, our stakeholder groups and of course, councillors of two councils and all parties working together. People who use bikes in Bristol should be rightly proud of the high quality cycling facilities we now have available to us."
South Gloucestershire Council’s executive member for planning, transportation and strategic environment Cllr Brian Allinson added: "The Cycling City award has made a huge difference to the way people travel in South Gloucestershire. The MJ award proves that South Gloucestershire Council is at the forefront of one of the fastest growing sustainable transport methods, which we hope will be further enhanced by the Local Sustainable Transport Fund."
Adrian Roper, South West regional director for Sustrans, said: "Sustrans would like to congratulate the Greater Bristol Cycling City project for winning this award. It has been a great pleasure for Sustrans to work with Bristol City and South Glos councils to help deliver new routes and improve links and road junctions for cyclists. The results are evident across the city with more people getting around by bike."
The judges said the project won the prize for showing ‘how local authorities and their partners are taking on the challenge to incorporate sustainability into projects and operations and to raise awareness by taking a leadership role in the delivery of a low-carbon economy’.
Former Number 10 director of comms and strategy Alastair Campbell presented the award at the London ceremony. He’s pictured next to Bristol City Council Cycling City Officer Ben Hillson; Julian Sutherland, design director for sustainable development; and Mark Parry, South Gloucestershire Council Cycling City officer Mark Parry.
