Olympic cycling champion Chris Boardman has been named as Manchester’s first cycling and walking commissioner.

 

His appointment was announced by Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, who pledged to make cycling a big part of the city’s transport ambitions in his election manifesto this spring.

 

Within eight years Greater Manchester aims to have 75% of people living active or ‘fairly active’ lives. Currently 38% in the city region are said to not be active enough to benefit their health, costing health services £26M a year.

 

“My first priority will be to pull together all the people who need to be involved in making cycling and walking viable, attractive and important part of the transport network in Greater Manchester,” Chris Boardman, who won gold at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, said.

 

“Cycling isn’t currently a big part of how people get around in the region but surveys have showed there is real desire to ride more, if we create an attractive, safe environment.”

 

Andy Burnham’s election manifesto included a commitment to “work with councils to build a network of dedicated cycle lanes” that would make use of infrastructure such as disused railways and canal towpaths to link up each borough and create radial links. Launch of a bicycle hire scheme was also mentioned.

 

A spokesman for the Greater Manchester Combined Authority said that further details of cycling infrastructure plans will be made available after Chris Boardman takes up his new role in September.

 

(Photo: Carlton Reid and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence)