Get 'on yer bike!' says local MP
‘Get on yer bike!’ says local MP
On the heels of great Olympic success in cycling, Jon Trickett MP this week praised the National Cycling Network as SusTrans – who runs the Network, published their report on its use.
A staggering 74 million car journeys were avoided in 2007 by the National Cycle Network – 21% of people who used the Network said they could have used a car but chose not to. In 2006, cycling on the National network saved just under 200,000 tonnes of Carbon Dioxide being released into the atmosphere.
Jon is a keen cyclist and has always been a big supporter of cycling in general. He has helped to bring some of the worlds best cyclists to the area in the Leeds Classics Races and the Tour of Britain.
Jon said:
‘Cycling is a great sport but it is also a good way to stay fit, to get where you’re going and to see the area you live in. I try to cycle everyday, at least for an hour or so and vividly remember my granddad, who was a passionate cyclist at the top of steps, on his static bike, training for some event or other. When he died a few years ago, I discovered that he had served in the Army in Iraq during the Second World War, and even there he engaged in bike races – on the Basra road of all places (such a dangerous place now).’
‘I’d encourage anyone who wants a way to stay fit and get out and about to take up cycling; you can get on your bike at any age and find routes to suit your fitness and ability’
‘If you’re cycling, you should always bear safety in mind – cycling helmets save hundreds of lives every year, they’re very important, even if you’re not cycling on busy roads.’
