Transport for Greater Manchester hopes for 'Wiggo effect' boost to cycle commuting

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) is hoping that heightened interest in cycling due to Bradley Wiggins’ Tour de France victory will give a boost to its Commuter Cycle Project. The agency is encouraging those taking to two wheels for the first time, or getting back in the saddle after a break, will take advantage of the free cycle training it offers.

Manchester is of course home to British Cycling, while Wiggins himself lives in a village a little outside the boundary of Greater Manchester, which also encompasses urban centres such as Bolton and Wigan.

"What Bradley Wiggins has achieved is truly remarkable and, together with the Olympic Games about to get underway, many people will undoubtedly be inspired to rediscover the joys of cycling,” commented TfGM’s Transport Strategy Director, Dave Newton.

“But we appreciate that a lot of people may need a confidence boost to get riding again regularly.

"The great news is that we're here to help. We have fully qualified instructors available to give people a free, two-hour one-to-one session.

"They'll even come to you - daytime, in the evening or at weekends; you choose.

"They will coach you through real-life situations, both on and off the roads. They'll also be able to offer advice on route planning, confidence tips and how to get the most out of your bike.

He added: "Bradley Wiggins is an inspiration - and we're determined to use his historic achievement to create a legacy of even more people taking up cycling as a way of getting to work now and long into the future."

As reported on road.cc last month, Manchester City Council, working alongside TfGM and British Cycling, outlined its ambitions to become England’s leading city for cycling, including the possible launch of a bike-share programme along the lines of London’s Barclays Cycle Hire Scheme.