Campaign urges people to love their bikes

Bike Friday logo

The Love Your Bike campaign is inviting the people of Greater Manchester to take part in Bike Friday on Friday 28 January.

Bike Friday combines a range of cycle rides into the City Centre from various locations as well as working with companies and local authorities in Greater Manchester to promote cycling, improve cycle facilities and to encourage more people to continue cycling to school, work and for leisure all year round.

The group hopes that cycle rides would help encourage local authorities to introduce 20mph speed limits in residential areas across Greater Manchester

The North West Public Health Observatory published research today (24 January), documenting the shocking number of road traffic casualties in the North West, and highlighting the fact there was compelling evidence that introducing the 20mph speed limit in residential areas would save lives and reduce injuries. According to the research, introducing 20mph speed limits could reduce the number of pedestrians of all ages killed or seriously injured by 26%, and the number of cyclists of all ages killed or seriously injured by 14%.

The government’s recent announcement of the £560 million Local Sustainable Transport Fund (LSTF) indicated clearly that the plans for 20mph speed limits in residential areas would be considered by the Department for Transport.

There is evidence from Portsmouth that has shown that reducing the speed limit to 20mp is a cost-effective way to reduce traffic speeds, and that the British Social Attitudes Survey has suggested nearly three quarters of people are willing to have 20mph speed restrictions in residential areas, including 72% of drivers that filled in the questionnaire. 20mph limits also provide better value for money that 20mph zones.

Catherine Thomson, from Manchester Friends of the Earth said: “20 mph makes sense. The safer communities flourishing as a result of the measure would mean more people walking and cycling in their local areas- better for the health of Manchester residents and the environment.”