Ambitious plans announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Tuesday, to boost cycling and walking in England in an attempt to get the nation fitter and healthier, have been welcomed by MP Bob Seely.
The Prime Minister’s vision commits to thousands of miles of new protected bike lanes, cycle training for children and adults and bikes available on prescription.
Also included in the plans is the immediate release of £50 bike repair vouchers – to encourage people to get their old bikes out of the back of the shed fixed and safe to ride – alongside the promise of new cycle racks and on street storage for those who don’t have space to keep a bike at home.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create a shift in attitudes and get people walking and cycling as part of their daily routine:
“By helping to fix your bike – or get an electrically powered one; by increasing storage space at stations, on trains and buses; and by introducing more ways to keep pedestrians and cyclists safe, we’re making it easier than ever to make active travel part of your daily life, and leading England to become a great cycling nation.”
Mr Seely said:
“The Island has some fantastic cycling and walking routes, but we can do more. We need to go further to join the networks up and make it easier for people to choose to walk or cycle to get around the Island. But these improvements are not just to benefit Islanders, they will improve our tourism offer too.
“We have three critical routes that need developing – the West Wight Route linking Yarmouth/Freshwater to Calbourne, Newbridge, Wellow and Newport; the Gunville Greenway which will make it easier and safer for people to cycle in and out of Newport to the west; and Wootton to Ryde to allow quick and easy access to the centre of Newport.
“I will be pushing for the Island to get as much support as possible to develop its cycling and walking networks.”
Due to overwhelming demand for cycle shops’ services during the pandemic, vouchers will be released in batches in order to help manage capacity across participating stores. The first 50,000 were released earlier this week on a first come first served basis to those who register online. The Government said it will work closely with industry during the first pilot launch to monitor its success and adapt the scheme as necessary before rolling it out more widely.
More information about the ‘Fix your Bike Voucher Scheme’ can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/fix-your-bike-voucher-scheme-apply-for-a-voucher.
This is all well and good to promote cycling but I’ve tried well still trying to get a bike through cycle to work scheme and many of the shops including online have none in stock with some saying that delivery dates are around November. Because all the sheep people are rushing to buy a bike because bozzo said so
nothing will happen roads too busy dangerous wont get anything towards any new paths or extend the old ones just all die a death…..
Wouldn’t mind if they used them always cyclists on fairlee road when there is a perfectly good cycle path.
Stu, have you ever road on that ‘perfectly good cycle path’? Have you had to watch out for a broken surface, untrimmed hedges, poorly maintained , narrow ,shared path? Not to mention multiple driveways to negotiate some spilling gravel dangerously onto the path. Sometimes cars parked on the path so as to save the occupants from an unnecessary walk of a few yards. This cycle path is not fit for purpose and is unsafe in my opinion. That’s why I ride on the road, that’s where I am entitled to ride by way of law and by way of contributing to the maintenance of the highways by taxation. Improve the infrastructure and I’ll happily give you the road back to sit in, tapping at your wheel whilst stationary in your traffic jam tutting at all the other single occupancy drivers. Remember you’re not in traffic, you are traffic.
Entitled yes but it’s still a cycle path what ever you say . You should all be fined for not using them when they are available.
I’ll take that as a no then.You are allowing your prejudices against cyclists to cloud any common sense judgement. I suppose you would like our already overstretched police force to patrol Fairlee Rd looking for cyclists not in the so called cycle path? One assumes you will be happy to pay extra tax to fund this valuable use of police time?
You say the cycle path is in poor state when did you last see a car driving on the cycle path to avoid the pot holes on the road.
But it’s illegal to drive on the pavement/cycle path? But Still I have seen numerous incidents of cars parked/driving on pavements, cars parked in cycle lanes, bus stops, box junctions etc. We all know cars are the big problem here, you just refuse to accept it, you are in denial of the damage the motor vehicle does to the planet and to your health.
The so called cycle path that runs behind the houses in Fairlee Road from Halberry Lane through the tunnel underneath Fairlee Road to Newport Quay, is in a very poor state.
Why?
Ask the Council, because they call it a cycle path, but in fact it is not a cycle path. It is a footpath, N208.
Could always do your public duty and help make them safe, surely that would also count as healthy exercise.
Public duty Fred? Do you suggest I re tarmac the whole of the cycle path alone, that is preposterous, it would take me months thus forcing more cyclists into your beloved road causing you to have to endure the oh so long and tortuous journey along the super highway that is Fairlee rd, I mean how far is it 2 whole kilometres? Must take about 5mins to drive the whole length, oh the humanity!
While out walking today I came across 3 cyclists who were complaining about there being a stile on a footpath…..
Maybe half a sausage can promote a bit of understanding to the cyclists on where they may and may not cycle….
Just buy an old landrover .much more fun