Prestwich to benefit as Greater Manchester makes £20m cycle bid to kickstart ‘Velocity 2025’

Greater Manchester has made a bid to secure £20 million of national investment in a major new cycling education and infrastructure programme.

It comes as part of the government’s Cycle City Ambition Grant (CCAG), which offers financial support for ambitious long-term plans for cycling in British cities and city regions.

A major 12 year cycling strategy – called ‘Velocity 2025’ – has been drawn up by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) on behalf of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.

Greater Manchester wants to kick-start a generational shift with a programme that has the potential to ‘mainstream’ cycling and increase by 2025 the number of people cycling by 300%

If CCAG funds are awarded, they would unlock cycling investment for Velocity 2025 worth £150 to £200 million from public and private partners over a ten-year period.

Velocity 2025 includes a major new network of strategic, integrated and – where possible – segregated cycle routes to employment centres, schools and leisure facilities.

‘Cycle and Ride’ facilities would also be developed to help people connect with Metrolink and rail services from the outskirts of the regional centre.

All of this would be alongside an ambitious programme of cycling promotion and education inspired by the success achieved in Germany and augmented by strong partnerships with organisations such as British Cycling, Sustrans, CTC and local cycle groups.

The partnership work is already underway with Chris Boardman MBE, of British Cycling, agreeing to become an ambassador for Velocity 2025.

Chris said: “If we want to make our cities great places to live and work, if we want them to embrace sustainability, then cycling has to be a critical part of the mix.

“Velocity 2025 sets Greater Manchester apart and will allow us to further establish the positive world class image Manchester holds for cycling.

“Whether you are a competitor, enthusiast, participant or a fan of cycling, it will help promote cycling in all its forms and British Cycling is committed to supporting Velocity 2025.”

Nearly 6,000 people have already pledged their support for Greater Manchester’s £20 million bid in an online vote that went live on Thursday 25 April.

Back the bid and find out more about Velocity 2025 at http://cycling.tfgm.com/velocity/

Councillor Matthew Colledge, Transport Lead for the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), said: “The ten local government bodies which make up the GMCA have been working closely with our transport authority, Transport for Greater Manchester, on the CCAG bid.

“If we are given the green light by the government, a cycling revolution will take place as Velocity 2025 is implemented across communities in Greater Manchester.

“Public support for our plans has also been very positive. We have had thousands give their backing to the bid online and we want to match their ambitions.”

Councillor Andrew Fender, Chair of the TfGM Committee, said: “Velocity 2025 is our vision for making Greater Manchester the most prominent British region for cycling facilities, infrastructure and education outside London.

“If we are successful with the Cycle City £20 million bid, as we have already been in securing almost £40 million LSTF funding, the programme it will deliver and the future investment it will unlock will make Velocity 2025 a reality.

“An integrated and strategic network of high-quality cycle routes will sit pride of place in Greater Manchester, connecting employment centres, schools and leisure opportunities.

“Cycling will be promoted to young and old alike to create a cultural shift in attitudes and making getting on a pedal bike a mainstream option for all.

“Our application and plans have been thorough, detailed and robust and I now eagerly await the outcome of the bid. I truly hope this will be a positive result for Greater Manchester as the implementation of Velocity 2025 would benefit this generation and the next.”

Velocity 2025 and the bid

Key to Greater Manchester’s Velocity 2025 plan is a number of super cycleways called ‘Spokes’. Spokes will be segregated from other traffic, wherever possible, and be adjacent to roads with 20mph speed limits.

·  Spoke one, the Prestwich ‘City View’ Cycleway will link Manchester City Centre from Prestwich and Heaton Park through Crumpsall and Irk Valley. A link to Alan Turing Way will feed into a traffic free orbital cycle route.

·  Spoke two, Ashton Canal Cycleway Spoke will be an off-highway route from Ashton to Manchester City Centre with links into Ashton town centre, Guide Bridge railway station and the National Cycling Centre.

·  Spoke three, the Mersey Valley & Stockport Cycleway will see a fully segregated cycle track linking Cheadle to the Corridor Super Cycleway and into Stockport Town Centre.

·  Spoke four, the Corridor SuperCycleway will be an improved on-highway, and largely segregated, cycle route from Wilmslow Road to East Didsbury with further links to the Trans Pennine Trail and Mersey Valley cycle paths.

·  Spoke five, the Airport City Enterprise Cycleway will be a new series of improved cycle links at Manchester Airport, adjacent to residential areas with links to Wythenshawe Hospital and the town centre.

·  Spoke six, the Bridgewater Cycleway will complete the final 4km of cycle route from Bridgewater Canal Towpath into Manchester City Centre. A link to Salford Quays will also be provided.

·  Spoke seven, the MediaCity and Quays Cycleway will expand cycle routes to better link the Lower Broughton area via Salford University to Media City UK and Salford Quays.

‘Cycle and Ride’ stations are also proposed at Gatley, Irlam, Flixton and East Didsbury railway stations and at Prestwich, Hollinwood and East Didsbury Metrolink stops.

A cycling education strategy has also been included into Velocity 2025 with a range of social programmes planned as part of the CCAG bid and beyond.

Local authorities will work with Greater Manchester schools, public health bodies and other stakeholders to promote cycling as a smart, easy and sensible lifestyle choice.

It follows successful bids to the government’s Local Sustainable Transport Fund (LSTF), which secured almost £40 million of DfT investment in new transport projects including major investment in new cycling facilities and support services. 

ENDS

Issued: 30 April 2013.

Media contact: Michael Watkinson on 0161 244 1055 or email mediarelations@tfgm.com