Cycling is back with a vengeance in Southampton as a £1m StreetTread project attempts to get people travelling in ways which benefit their health and the environment.
The average number of miles cycled by each person in the south-east, including Southampton, has fallen to just 45 miles per year - compared with 56 miles a decade ago.
At the same time, 60 per cent of men and 70 per cent of women are not physically active enough, which is escalating health problems such as obesity.
StreetTread, set up by the UK's leading sustainable transport charity Sustrans, will now try to buck these trends over the next four years - and help cut spiralling transport costs.
Natalie Gledhill, StreetTread project coordinator, said: "Cycling and walking are great ways of getting our 30 minutes of physical activity a day.
"With rising fuel prices and increasing congestion, this is an opportune time to rely on our feet and our bikes as cheaper and often quicker methods of transport for everyday journeys."
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The project will provide a fleet of bikes at Southampton's Chamberlayne Leisure Centre in Weston, Redbridge Community College and The Quays complex for free use by local people, who can also join free bike rides, walks and bike maintenance events.
For those who can't cycle or are frightened of pedalling on the road, StreetTread is teaching people of all ages the basics of safe cycling.
And to coincide with Bike Week, doctors and nurses will compete in a city-wide Bike2Work day on June 17 to win a pool bike for their department.
StreetTread is funded by Southampton City Council, Sustrans and primary care trusts to get more people active in walking and cycling. Visit sustrans.org.uk
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