Health chiefs call for investment in cycling facilities

Sports and health chiefs are calling on the government to invest £30m in the 2^nd phase of a groundbreaking scheme to get communities out cycling after data analysis reveals that the first phase has already saved the NHS over £13 million.

The initial Places to Ride programme – Britain’s largest ever investment in community cycling facilities – was launched in 2019 and helped to fund over 150 community cycling projects across the UK, bringing new cycling opportunities to over half a million people.

And crucially, it helped support tens of thousands of people with long term health conditions including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, stroke, dementia and depression get outside, mix with others, and take exercise they wouldn’t have done otherwise.

Now, British Cycling, who run the Places to Ride programme, in partnership with Sport England and DCMS, are urging the government to double its investment with £30million in a 2^nd phase to deliver over 250 new community-based facilities which they says will have a transformational impact on the health and well-being of the nation, particularly for marginalised groups.

Aston spoke to James Howes, strategic lead for physical activity and health at British Cycling.

Photo by Max Bender on Unsplash