An unprecedented investment in cycling has improved the public’s health in six Cycling Demonstration Towns – and has had a positive impact on its most inactive citizens according to new statistics published today.

The new analysis of research conducted in partnership with the National Obesity Observatory and Sustrans, shows the impact an increase in cycling has had on public health - with a 10 per cent reduction in the number of people classified as physically inactive.

The research carried out for Cycling England shows that, in the first three years of the programme:

    * cycling has increased by an average of 27 per cent in the six towns;
    * the proportion of children cycling to school either every day, or once or twice a week, soared by 126 per cent in the schools where the six towns invested most heavily; and
    * the towns have achieved growth rates for cycling similar to the most cycle-friendly European cities, and matched the growth seen in London.

The six towns received support similar to that in European cities where cycling is popular and cycling schemes are successful.

Public Health Minister Gillian Merron said:

"It is really encouraging  to see the positive effect that cycling towns are having on people's health across the whole community. The Government's

cycling towns programme has shown that, by making the environment safer and more supportive for cycling we can improve public health and make exercise a part of our daily lives."

The health benefits of getting the most sedentary people to take moderate amounts of physical activity are widely recognised. Physically inactive people are putting themselves at increased risk of early death. By becoming active, this risk is dramatically reduced. The benefits of the Cycling Demonstration Towns programme have been shown to outweigh the costs by at least three to one, with health benefits making up the largest part of this gain. The reduction in mortality alone is estimated to be worth £45 million over ten years.

Increases in cycling in the selected towns were not seen in matched ‘control’ towns where there was no investment in cycling.  The Cycling England programme is continuing to fund these towns and has since committed to investing in a further 12 cities and towns.