A spokesperson for the county council has said:
“We're committed to continuing and expanding the work already undertaken to encourage walking, cycling and passenger transport use in Redditch to reduce single car occupancy and improve health.”
The money the Government is ploughing into the region will support elite cycling, but the council has decided to use some of the resources that have been made available to try to change the behaviour of ordinary people in the district. They may use printing services in South Birmingham to advertise the health benefits of walking and cycling. Further, major cycle races will benefit from private sponsors, as well as public investment.
Nearly £3 million has already been invested in the project. Research has shown that in one year of the initiative, the number of individuals using their cars to travel fairly short distances has dipped. However, the number of people who have been using their cars regularly has still nudged upwards.
Nevertheless, the research has shown that many citizens are more knowledgeable about bus routes than they were one year ago. In addition, it was found that a significant proportion of the local population knows more about cycle routes than they used to do.