Councils should be given greater powers to create designated
streets that favour cyclists over cars, a national inquiry has
concluded. 'Active communities: cycling to a better quality of
life' is the report of an inquiry held by the Local Government
Information Unit (LGiU) and Cycling England. This report has
found that transport regulations should be reviewed to give
councils greater control over cycling routes to get more people
out of their cars and onto their bikes. Councils would be able
to design the street to favour cyclists while also making it
accessible for cars and pedestrians. For every car driver
converted to a bike, the UK economy saves around £400 a year
through reduced medical bills, congestion and pollution,
according to research conducted by Cycling England. The inquiry
report - downloadable as a PDF here - also calls for every
public building to be an exemplar to encourage cycling, for
example by implementing storage facilities and bike loan
schemes. LGiU Centre for Local Sustainability pol