Culture of cycling still has ‘long way to go’

Boardman, who launches British Cycling’s ChooseCycling manifesto today, says that, while the nation can boast Tour de France and Olympic triumphs, the public has yet to truly accept cycling into everyday culture. His warning comes as the profile of cycling will be boosted further with the arrival of the Tour in Yorkshire this summer.

But Boardman, British Cycling’s policy adviser, said: “Britain is now one of the most successful cycling nations in the world. How can we be getting it so right in terms of elite success but still be failing to truly embed cycling as an everyday part of British culture? This research demonstrates that the impact of more cycling would have positive effects for everyone.”

He added: “In the 1970s, the Netherlands made a conscious choice to put people first and make cycling and walking their preferred means of transport. It is no coincidence that they are also one of the healthiest and happiest nations in the world.

“Local and national government needs to wake up and realise that cycling is the solution to so many of the major problems Britain is now facing.”

British Cycling also published research which showed there would be NHS savings of at least £250m a year if 10 per cent of trips in England and Wales were made by bike.