Islington MPs Emily Thornberry and Jeremy Corbyn joined cycling colleagues from the Houses of Parliament this week to show their support for the 2007 Tour de France – the world-famous cycling race which will start in London this year for the first time in its 104-year history.
The Tour de France is the largest annual cycling race event in the world. After lobbying by the Mayor of London Ken Livingstone, the race’s organisers were persuaded to start this year’s race in central London with a weekend called the ‘London Grand Départ’.
In support of this event, Emily, who is chair of the All Party Parliamentary Cycling Group, arranged for this year’s annual Parliamentary Bike Ride to follow the 5-mile opening stage of the Tour de France – known as the ‘Prologue’. The ride took a group of MPs and Peers, including Minister for Sport Richard Caborn MP and Transport Minister Tom Harris MP, past the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace, and Hyde Park, and the Mall.
Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone said: “The Tour de France is a superb opportunity to promote cycling in both London and the UK. During the past seven years, the number of people taking to two wheels in the Capital has soared by 83 per cent – more than any other city in Europe. We want the excitement of the Tour de France to encourage even more people to take up cycling.”
Emily said: "Cycling is really taking off in London, but there are still some people who think it’s not safe enough, or don’t have the confidence to give it a go. Cycling is healthy and safe, and you can do it no matter what shape, size or age you are. If a bunch of MPs can easily cycle 5 miles, anyone can!”
Notes:
1. The Tour de France Grand Départ comes to London on July 6, 7 and 8. Over the weekend, there will be an additional 11,000 cycling parking spaces in London. For more details see: www.tourdefrancelondon.com
2. Cycling in London
a. Since 2000 there has been an 83 per cent increase in the number of people cycling on the Capital’s major roads. There are now around 480,000 cycle journeys a day across London as a whole.
b. Investment in cycling has risen from £5.5 million in 2000 to £36 million in 2007/8.
c. The Mayor of London has said he wants to see a 400 per cent increase in cycling by 2025.
d. In 2006, The Department for Transport doubled funding for Cycling England, the national cycling body, to £10million a year
