Transport minister pedals into Oxfordshire to call for a 'nation of cyclists'

(Caption: 1 +2 Cllr Liam Walker with Jesse Norman and transport officers Robert Freshwater and Llewellyn Morgan at Oxpens, 3 - Jesse Norman with Cllr Liam Walker at Backhill Tunnel)

Cycling Minister Jesse Norman has visited Oxfordshire to find out more about work done to to enable more cycling on the day that he set out his own plans to help people to walk and cycle more, as part of a push for the UK to leave cars behind for shorter journeys.

His first port of call was Oxpens in Oxford to look over plans for the Riverside Route to Oxford City Centre project before heading off to Milton Park to try out the recently completed Backhill Tunnel - a redeveloped formerly deralict tunnel which now links Milton Park and the adjacent A4130 in west Didcot. He also heard about the county council's Cycling Design Standards - 

Mr Norman said:

"We need to become a nation of cyclists, and the government wants to make cycling the natural choice of transport for people of all ages and backgrounds.

"The call for evidence published today will support an open, comprehensive and thorough review across government to encourage active travel and improve safety for all road users, and I hope that as many people as possible take the time to read and respond to it.

"We are determined to make cycling safer and easier across the country, and we are continuing to invest. Today we’re announcing an investment of £100,000 each in 3 innovative cycle safety projects, in addition to the recent £7 million of funding to improve cycle safety. This is all part of the first-ever statutory Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy."