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Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham gives full backing to Chris Boardman's plans to get region cycling

Labour politician pledges high quality infrastructure to encourage more people to cycle

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham has pledged to build high quality infrastructure for cyclists to get more residents of the region on bikes in a bid to tackle congestion and improve air quality.

The Labour politician, who became Greater Manchester’s first elected mayor in May this year, gave his full support to Chris also Boardman, whom he appointed the region’s cycling and walking commissioner in July.

Speaking today at the Urban Transport Group Conference in Leeds, Burnham said: “According to the Greater Manchester Travel Diary Survey, almost a third of journeys less than 1km are made by car.

“That’s equivalent to a 15-minute walk – or a four-minute bike ride.

“Enabling people to walk or cycle, particularly for these short journeys, is key to tackling congestion, improving air quality and improving people’s health.

“Other cities have shown that if you build high-quality cycling infrastructure then people will use it.”

He continued: “Later this week Chris Boardman will be publishing his report on how to make Greater Manchester the best place for walking and cycling in the UK – and in doing so achieve that modal shift we need.

“It will challenge us to be bolder than we have been in the past and I am determined that we meet that challenge.”

Burnham added: “When Chris launches his report on Friday, I will be setting out my intention for how we use the Transforming Cities Fund to support cycling and walking infrastructure.”

His keynote address to the conference touched on all areas of transport in Greater Manchester, a topic that he has made his priority as mayor.

Among the issues he spoke about were the congestion clogging the area’s streets and motorways and the impact that had on productivity and people’s lives, as well as plans to overhaul how bus services are operated in the region.

He added: “We have clear plans to improve all modes of transport and make them integrate into one system.

“But these improvements won’t happen overnight. Over the next year the public will need to bear with us, and remain patient.

“2018 will involve a lot of hard work. And there is no escaping the fact that some of the work might cause disruption.

“But we have got to grasp the nettle and get it done. We cannot leave things as they are.

He concluded: “We need to plan for a system that keeps the place moving, that people can afford to use and gives them clean air to breathe. 

“In short, an integrated public transport system that puts the public interest first. It’s not much to ask, is it?”

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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3 comments

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P3t3 | 6 years ago
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I think the interesting part is how they are going to deal with resistance to any plans.  Are they going to follow London down the Massive effort on a few flsgship schemes route or are they going to do something different.  How can they avoid the massive cost and endless waiting for a few schemes that we have seen everywhere else.  If Burnham is serious then he needs to get enough done on the ground that it can be seen and shown to be working in order to get re-elected... otherwise the backlash might loose him the next mayorial election before he gets anything done...

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CygnusX1 | 6 years ago
2 likes

Early Christmas present from Saint Boardman  4

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kitsunegari | 6 years ago
4 likes

To be honest, whilst I await Andy Burnhams policies with baited breath, whilst infrastructure investment is needed, far more important is an attitude change of the general populace.

Looking forward to reading Chris's report though.

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