Boardman, a policy advisor to British Cycling, was speaking to the Transport Select Committee on the day the governing body launched its "Choose Cycling" campaign which sets out a 10-point plan to get Britons on a bike more on a regular basis.

Boardman, winner of the individual pursuit gold in Barcelona, told Members of Parliament getting more people out on their bikes would mean more to him than his moment of glory 22-years-ago and called for more to be done to provide safe and accessible cycle networks in Britain similar to those in countries such as the Netherlands and Denmark.

"If I could help more people to choose cycling it would mean more to me than my Olympic gold medal," said Boardman.

"Most of our journeys are within a 25 minute bike ride but we need to make it look and feel safer for everyone, not just those who are already fit and confident.

"We think about cycle safety in completely the wrong way by focusing on the individual, rather than the benefits more people cycling would deliver for us as a society.

"The safest places in the world for people on bikes have taken the positive decision to prioritise cycling as a mode of transport.

"The results are far higher rates of cycling and far lower rates of inactivity-related illnesses.

"If we want to get the nation cycling, we need political will and support at the highest level.

"I want MPs on the Transport Select Committee and across all political parties to wake up and realise that cycling is the solution to so many of the problems we face today.

"We've had enough talking – now is the time for action."

Olympic gold medal winner Chris Boardman says more needs to be done to encourage people to get out on their bikes ©Getty Images



The "Time to #ChooseCycling" report was published today by British Cycling, following research carried out on behalf of the governing body by Cambridge University.

It claims if young and old people made one in 10 trips by bike, Britons would gain the equivalent of one million extra healthy years of life over the next decade, while replacing five minutes of the 36 minutes spent each day in the car with cycling would reduce the annual health burden from inactivity-related illnesses including heart disease, diabetes, stroke and some cancers by up to five per cent.

It also claimed if 10 per cent of journeys in England and Wales were made by bike, the savings to the NHS of the top inactivity related illnesses would be at least £250 million ($410 million/€300 million) a year.

The new campaign sets out a 10-point plan of action to transform Britain into a "true cycling nation".

The points include better cycle-proofing of roads and junctions; meaningful and consistent levels of investment; consistent political leadership for cycling; improving the justice system to protect and support vulnerable road users; adding cycling safety to the driving test; strengthening cycling safety provisions in the Highway Code; road and cycle safety awareness; reducing the risk to people on bikes from heavy goods vehicles (HGVs); cycle training made available for all children; and reducing speed limits for vehicles on the road.

The British Government has been urged to do more to provide safer cycle routes in England and Wales ©AFP/Getty Images



Last year, British Cycling revealed its membership reached a record 80,000, driven mainly by the success of Britain on the elite international cycling stage, and coupled with a number of participation initiatives, including a pledge to get one million more women cycling by 2020, the need for more and safer cycling routes across the country has be become a key priority.

That need was further emphasised following the hospitalisation of Sir Bradley Wiggins and British Cycling track coach Shane Sutton within hours of each other in November 2012 after both were involved in separate road traffic incidents.

Last September, British Cycling appointed Adrian Lord as its new infrastructure expert who will be responsible for designing cycle friendly routes across towns and cities in Britain.

To view the Time to #ChooseCycling report click here.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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