A PLAN designed to get Swindon cycling is being developed and the council is asking for people to make their views known.

In partnership with a number of other biking groups, a draft cycling framework has been established for the town.

The aim is to double the number of cycle journeys which are taken over the next decade by making it feel more like an everyday activity.

Among the organisations to help develop the strategy with the council was charity Sustrans.

Area manager Alastair Millington believes the work transforming schools has been successful so now there needs to be a focus on convincing adults to change their ways.

He told the BBC: “The thing about people’s travel behaviour is that often it is habit. That is the difficult thing.

“We’ve done a lot of work in schools promoting cycling along with the council and the results have been quite dramatic.

“Where as adults we’ve got into bad habits but we’ve found doing work with adults in recent years that once you start promoting the options for cycling, taking the and walking people respond very favourably.

“We did a project in the workplace recently and we managed to reduce car usage by about 23 per cent.

“This is the sort of thing the council wants to build on with the cycle strategy.”

As well as the benefits of reducing pressure on many of the town’s busy roads, the council are keen to promote the health benefits as well.

Read about the council's framework here www.swindontravelchoices.co.uk

Coun Dale Heenan (Con, Covingham and Dorcan), the cabinet member for transport, said: “Swindon is a vibrant, growing town and one where I believe everyone should have the opportunity to live healthy, safe, fulfilling and independent lives supported by thriving and connected communities.

“The Swindon Cycling Framework aims to bring together a number of policy sectors such as transport, health and sport.

“Encouraging cycling will help to achieve joint aims of economic development, improved public health, a reduction is social inequalities, and environmental improvements whilst helping to cut congestion and build liveable neighbourhoods.

“We must understand and address the barriers preventing people from getting on their bikes with a recognition that people want to cycle for a variety of purposes other than commuting. Whilst the journey to work is important, providing places for people to cycle safely for leisure and sport is equally important.

“The Swindon Cycling Framework provides the foundations to take a cycling step-change and will help to attract vital funding for future cycling projects.”