Southport & Ainsdale
With a population of just 90,000, Southport is a popular coastal resort and shopping centre that markets itself as England’s Classic Resort and attracts 4.5m visitors each year. The Cycling Towns programme aims to make cycling the preferred mode of transport in the town centre for residents and tourists alike, no matter how they travel to Southport.
Compact and largely flat, Southport is ideal for cycling, and the number of people commuting by bike is much higher than in other parts of Merseyside. Southport’s Cycling Towns programme aims to encourage tourism and leisure cycling, create regeneration opportunities and significantly increase cycling to school.
As well as providing a widely available cycle hire scheme through hotels, conference venues and other central locations, the programme will offer weekend cycle training courses and led rides. A high-quality cycle network around the seafront area will provide access to the Sefton Coast and develop routes to the town centre, linking all the main leisure attractions for visitors and residents alike. Cycle routes will be built in the two main areas selected for development (the Marine Park area on the seafront and the area to the east of town around Kew, including the business park). Cycling to school will be encouraged by building links to schools, creating more cycle parking and offering in-school motivational and training programmes.
For more information visit http://www.sefton.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=9024
