NORTH EAST SHA

							Following the announcement of the government on the abolition of Cycling
England the DfT has issued the following information.

Bikeability – cycle proficiency for the 21st Century – will be supported for the
remainder of this Parliament.

Is it true that Cycling England is to be abolished?

      Yes. Cycling England will cease to exist in March 2011 at the end of this
       financial year, with most of its key functions being taken into the Department
       for Transport.


What will happen to Bikeability?

      DfT have announced that it will continue the Bikeability programme, which has
       delivered cycle training to thousands of children, for the remainder of this
       Parliament. Exactly how it will be delivered is yet to be determined. Further
       details will be announced after the Spending Review.

What does ‘supporting Bikeability’ mean? How much grant will be available?

      The existing grants awarded to local authorities and School Sports
       Partnerships for 2010/11 remain available in full.

      Funding for Bikeability schemes for cycle training in schools will continue for
       the remainder of this Parliament. However it is not possible to say how much
       will be available each year until after the outcome of the Spending Review.


What are the plans for encouraging sustainable travel generally?

      Last month DfT announced plans for a new Local Sustainable Travel Fund. It
       will be for local partnerships – local transport authorities working with their
       communities – to identify the right solutions for their areas which are
       financially robust and sustainable in the long term.

      The Fund will encompass a broad range of sustainable travel initiatives:
       encouragement of cycling and walking, behaviour change, initiatives to
       improve integration between travel modes and end-to-end journey
       experiences, better public transport priority and improved traffic management
       schemes.