By Anika Bourley Parliamentary Correspondent

Published at 11:36, Thursday, 29 October 2009

HUNDREDS of health workers across Cumbria will be guaranteed changing rooms and somewhere to lock their bikes as part of a new Government drive to boost cycling.

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North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle and the West Cumberland Hospital, Whitehaven, is among 70 organisations to have signed up to a national “cycle to work” pledge in an attempt to transform the numbers pedalling to work.

By signing the Cycle to Work Guarantee, which was launched yesterday, the employers have committed to providing staff with safe bike storage, changing facilities, bike repair services on or near the workplace, and access to the tax break scheme Cycle to Work, which offers discounts for new bikes and cycling equipment.

Ministers are banking on a mass shift of workers to bicycles to tackle traffic congestion, reduce carbon emissions and boost health in the city.

The Department for Transport pointed out that nationally at least a third of city workers live within a half an hour bike ride of their place of work, but only about three per cent currently cycle.

Meanwhile, nearly half of all people in Britain over the age of 11 own a bike and two in five of all journeys are under two miles.

Health Secretary Andy Burnham added: “Getting on your bike for the journey to work is a great way to get fit and healthy. But we can’t expect people to cycle to work if they can’t have a shower or store their bike safely when they get there – that’s why we need a Cycle to Work Guarantee from employers.”

Other organisations to have signed the guarantee include most central Government departments and major companies such as BSkyB, EON and GSK.

Dozens of local authorities have also agreed to commit to the guarantee, which is aimed at large employers. Other employers will now be invited to follow their lead.

Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk