Cycling Towns – ideas for getting more people cycling, more often

15 June 2011 Birmingham

Department of Health West Midlands

Physical Activity CPD Event

Alison Kennedy, Infrastructure Manager and Ray Hughes, School Travel Plan coordinator

Cycling and health• More cycling helps meet our transport objectives and

provides many physical and mental health benefits• Cycling is a form of physical activity which can be

integrated into daily life without finding time for specific ‘exercise’

• Improving the physical environment helps tackle wider determinants of health

• See cycling and health evidence base

“Active travel and physical activity need to become the norm in communities”

Healthy Lives, Healthy People: Our strategy for public health in England

Cycle Shrewsbury – aim

…to significantly increase overall levels of cycling in the town by 2011

Strong branding

A helpful website

Infrastructure improvements

Telford Way - new footway, cycle tracks, cycle

lanes and toucan crossing

Plenty of cycle parking

Routes and information

Lots of events

Love your bike month

..and rides

School activities

Stabilisers off

Workplace support

Advice and training

Target groups

How are we doing?• We have recorded an 8.7% rise in levels of cycling in

Shrewsbury in 2010/11 compared to 2009/10

• Cycle Shrewsbury has provided 1,810 new cycle parking spaces

• 669 school children received bikeability training in Shrewsbury in 2010/11

• Cycling levels in Shrewsbury secondary schools have increased to 14% in 2011

Lessons learnt and the future• Integration of people and place• Partnerships• Branding and awareness• Tackling barriers, safety concerns and lack of skills and confidence

• Local Sustainable Transport Fund• Local authority and public health function• Your help is needed

Obesity and physical activity programmes, including encouraging active travel, will.. become the responsibility of local authorities.

Alison Kennedy, Infrastructure Manager, Shropshire Councilalison.kennedy@shropshire.gov.uk 01743 253035

Ray Hughes, School Travel Plan Coordinator, Shropshire Council ray.hughes@shropshire.gov.uk 01743 253063

To contact us..