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The team will be charged with bringing about improvements in conditions for cyclists throughout the English regions and will report to the National Cycling Strategy Board for England, a body tasked by the Government to deliver a four-fold increase in cycling from 1996 levels by 2012.
The new team, announced today by John Spellar, Minister for Transport, will be responsible for:
* auditing how well local authorities are currently providing for cyclists and highlighting where improvements can be made;
* ensuring that advice on cycling is getting through to the right people at local and regional levels;
* establishing new channels for sharing information and best practice about cycling;
* creating partnerships between organisations involved in encouraging cycling and providing support for the promotion of adult or child cycle training.
“The Government is committed to putting resources on the ground to ensure that people’s travel choices are well informed and supported," said Spellar.
“We have provided on-site support to hundreds of schools and employers who want to put in place more effective and environmentally friendly travel plans.
“This new team of experts, working in partnership with local authorities and others, will build on that experience and will give the NCS Board powerful support to ensure progress is made towards the demanding targets in the National Cycling Strategy.”
The Chairman of the NCS Board, Steven Norris, appointed in October last year, said:
"I am delighted at the appointment of this team to help realise the objectives of the National Cycling Strategy.
“The delivery of the Strategy target of quadrupling the number of cycle trips by 2012 will be a challenge but I am confident that the NCS Board supported by this new team will achieve considerable improvements for cyclists throughout England."
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