Plans to get more people in the West Midlands cycling, as part of the legacy of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, has been given a £2m boost from the Department for Transport.
Funding will be put towards the Cycling for Everyone programme and comes from the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Active Travel Legacy Package.
The aim of Cycling for Everyone is to work with communities across the region’s most disadvantaged areas to encourage and enable more people to get on a bike to improve both their health and the environment, as well as providing access to employment and education.
Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), which is part of the West Midlands Combined Authority, will now work with partners to develop Cycling for Everyone projects and activities ready to roll out ahead of next year’s Games and linking to the broader Birmingham 2022 Physical Activity & Wellbeing legacy.
Andy Street, the mayor of the West Midlands, said: “I’m delighted that we have been able to secure more cash from the government to help promote cycling across the West Midlands.
“We know that cycling is great for people’s physical health and of course for reducing air pollution as we tackle the climate emergency, that’s why we are already putting unprecedented investment into cycling and walking.
“Now, with this further investment from government for Cycling for Everyone, we can target key areas and provide communities who wouldn’t usually get the chance to reap the benefits that cycling offers.”
Cycling for Everyone also aims to address barriers to cycling including lack of cycling experience, low confidence, access to pedal cycles and knowing others who cycle.
Activity could include cycle training, led rides, community hubs or clubs, free or subsidised pedal cycles, travel support for businesses, schools and communities.
Furthermore, TfWM and local authority partners are currently investing £40m in active travel, taking spending to more than £10 per head for the first-time last year. This involves the development of safe cycle routes, the growing West Midlands Cycle Hire scheme as well as many smaller scale community projects.
