Let's get St Helens cycling

8 August 2020

 

St Helens Green Party has welcomed government plans* to encourage cycling – and is calling on St Helens Council to work with local residents and community groups on the borough’s big bike revival.

The government has pledged to spend £2billion on thousands of miles of safer, segregated cycle routes nationwide and to introduce an Ofsted-style watchdog, to make sure local authorities deliver.

Councillor David van der Burg of St Helens Green Party says:

“This is an opportunity not to be missed. More and more people are experiencing the benefits of cycling, and we now have a chance to make it a golden age for cycling in St Helens.

“We need the council to work with local residents, the business community and especially cyclists themselves to get it right – including better provision for people with disabilities. The days of simply painting lines on main roads are over.

“Investment in cycling should form part of a wider highways review in favour of active travel across the borough. We would urge residents to take part in the council’s current active travel survey, which is running until 31 August.”

Under the government proposals:

• people of all ages will be able to access cycle training;
• there will be more secure cycle parking facilities at train and bus stations;
• residents will have the power to bring an end to local rat runs; and
• councils will have the powers to crack down on people parking in cycle lanes.

Cycle lane standards will be overseen by a new inspectorate, Active Travel England, which will be responsible for the cycling budget and will ensure that new schemes meet the new standards.

St Helens Council’s active travel survey is available online at https://sthelensliveablestreets.commonplace.is/

Notes to editors

* https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cycling-and-walking-plan-for-england

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