Portsmouth Labour is backing plans by the Portsmouth Cycle Forum to encourage more cycle-friendly initiatives in our city and showed its support for plans by inviting along representatives of the Forum to one of its recent meetings.
Cllr Stephen Morgan, Portsmouth’s Labour Leader, is a keen cyclist and has signed up to the pledges contained within the ‘City to Share’ plan developed by the Forum in consultation with the city council.
The City to Share contains a vision for Portsmouth to:
“Become the pre-eminent cycling city of the UK. A city fit for the future: a healthy, safe, sustainable, prosperous city that people want to live in, to work in and to visit. A city where we share spaces, co-operate with each other and treat one another with courtesy and respect”.
Cllr Stephen Morgan said:
“As a keen cyclist in our city, I know only too well how great cycling is to get around Portsmouth, help avoid congestion and keep active.
In fact, it has become the third most popular participatory sport in the country so it has huge potential to make an impact on the health and wellbeing of our communities.
Currently Portsmouth is one of the most dangerous places to cycle in the country. That is completely unacceptable. We must make our roads safer, encourage more considerate road behaviour and commit to other actions as set out in the City to Share plan.
It was great to catch up with the forum’s team at a recent meeting and I welcome their continued efforts and lobbying on this important issue. Encouraging safe cycling for all must be a priority for the city’s future”.
The City to Share plan is backed up with a number of themed priorities including:
A safer city
People of all ages will feel protected and respected on the roads and safe to travel independently within the city
Improved health outcomes
People will be healthier for longer with reduced obesity levels and reduced strain on local health services. The number and severity of accidents on the road will be substantially reduced bringing further benefits.
A stronger local economy
Cycling will favour the use of local businesses rather than large out of town centres. Less congestion with increased transport capacity will benefit businesses across the city.
A better environment
A reduction in the volume of traffic will reduce the primary source of air pollution in the city. This will bring further benefits to the health of all and prevent many early deaths. There will also be benefits from the reduced carbon footprint of our low-lying city.
A fairer, more liveable city
A shift in transport away from the dominance of the road infrastructure by the private motor vehicle to cycling and walking will deliver benefits to the whole city, not just to those who cycle.
To view the plan click here
