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Bristol and the 11 towns have succeeded in winning a share of the record £100m investment package to pioneer innovative ways to increase cycling in their areas. Proposals include improving cycling infrastructure such as dedicated cycle lanes, increasing bike parking provision and cycle training and promoting the benefits of cycling.

Today's announcement aims to encourage 2.5 million more adults and children to take up cycling, improve their fitness and beat the traffic.

Bristol wants to double the number of people cycling over the next three years, by creating new cycle lanes and improving the existing network.  They're keen to follow the example of several european cities such as Paris to make it easier for everyone to get on their bikes, or rather hire bikes, creating the UK's first on-street bike rental network run by Hourbike.

Acknowledging that cyclists are not the freshest smelling creatures after cycling into work, the city also plans to build a state-of-the-art facility for cyclists in the city centre providing showers, bike parking and lockers so commuters can have a wash and brush up before starting work.

Ruth Kelly said:
"The UK's first ever Cycling City and 11 new Cycling Demonstration Towns will pioneer new ways of encouraging people to get on their bikes.

"A quarter of journeys made every day by car are less than two miles. Cycling is an alternative that could bring real health benefits to millions of adults and children, as well as helping them save money and beat congestion.

"The first step in persuading people to leave their cars at home is to offer them a real choice. Providing a step change in cycling facilities, dedicated cycle lanes, more training and information will have a big impact on how people choose to travel.

"I look forward to seeing these towns and cities put their plans into action and urge other communities across the country to follow their lead."

Councillor Helen Holland, Leader of Bristol City Council, said:
"Our aim is to make the bicycle a real alternative for many more people travelling to and around Bristol. This award, and the funding that it brings, will enable us to progress with a raft of off and on-road improvements, alongside promotional activity which will encourage more people, across the generations, to chose pedal power to make a real difference to their own and our city's health and environment."

Cycling Towns
The further 11 Cycling Demonstration Towns will build on the work of the existing six Cycling Demonstration Towns appointed in 2005, which have seen significant increases in cycling levels. They are Blackpool, Cambridge, Chester, Colchester, Leighton/Linslade, Shrewsbury, Southend on Sea, Southport with Ainsdale, Stoke, Woking and York.

As one of the 11 towns to be appointed as a Cycling Town, Woking will receive £2m.  Woking has already been developing cycling initiatives, and say that they have seen a 14% growth in cycle journeys since 2004.  They plan to
upgrade the Basingstoke Canal towpath to provide a "high quality east-west walking and cycling route via the town centre with links to local schools and local neighbourhoods" and improve cycle storage at its railway stations.

Phillip Darnton, Chairman of Cycling England, said:
"We have learnt from our European neighbours, such as the Netherlands, that increased and sustained investment is the key to getting more people enjoying the benefits of cycling. The funding that Bristol and the other 11 towns have been awarded is designed to create a real step change in levels of cycling, starting in 2008 and for years to come.

"Beyond well co-ordinated, consistent investment in cycling, and the introduction of policy measures to encourage it, cycling crucially needs determined and persistent high-level leadership. We are delighted that the Government has championed this and Cycling England's other projects which aim to increase national cycling levels by 20 per cent overall by 2012."