Report names Dudley one of the best areas for walking and cycling (From Dudley News)

Report names Dudley one of the best areas for walking and cycling

8:00am Monday 17th September 2012 in Local

DUDLEY has been hailed one of the best areas for walking and cycling in a new report that compares transport in a number of England’s cities and boroughs.

National independent charity The Campaign for Better Transport accessed 26 of the country’s largest cities and boroughs to form the report in which Dudley came fifth in the category of ‘cycling and walking as alternatives’.

Borough transport bosses hope the news, plus improvements to some of Dudley’s cycling routes and plans for more over the coming months, will encourage more residents than ever before to get on their bikes.

Areas of good practice in Dudley highlighted in the report included cycling training, Better cycling infrastructure and more dedicated, safe cycle routes to attract commuters out of their cars and comprehensive travel planning and promotion of walking and cycling.

Last year Dudley Council was awarded more than £350,000 from the government’s Local Sustainable Transport Fund to deliver an active travel project in the Brierley Hill area and active travel corridors across the borough as part of Dudley’s healthy towns initiative.

Councillor Judy Foster, Dudley’s cabinet member for transportation, said: “This independent report recognises the fantastic work that council officers in conjunction with community groups have been doing to encourage and reward walking and cycling as a means of transport.

“We are committed to becoming a greener borough and will continue to work towards encouraging our residents to select sustainable travel.”

The borough also came 12th in a category in the report looking at accessibility and planning, buses and trains quality and uptake, and driving and car use.