Council watchdogs in Wakefield will look into plans to get more residents on their bikes ahead of a landmark year for cycling in Yorkshire.
As Yorkshire prepares for the eyes of the world turn on the region for the Tour de France next year, councillors are set to look at how they will implement a new strategy to encourage cycling in the district.
The Wakefield Cycle Strategy is aimed at getting more people to ditch their cars and ease congestion on the roads by travelling on their bikes.
A report to Wakefield Council’s Skills and Enterprise Overview and Scrutiny Committee says: “The strategy is a minor yet crucial element of Wakefield’s strategy for transport. If successful, it will encourage more people to cycle more often. This will help reduce dependency on private cars, ease congestion on roads and improve health.”
It is hoped the strategy will eventually see new and improved cycle routes created throughout the district.
Last year the council asked cyclists to have their say on draft cycle strategy proposals.
The committee’s latest review of the strategy comes just over a month since Wakefield Council leader Coun Peter Box hailed the news that the Tour de France will be coming to Yorkshire.
The huge cycling event will start on July 5 and 6 2014 bringing millions of fans to the Yorkshire roadside to cheer on the champions of the sport.
Coun Box said: “The Tour de France will bring a huge boost to the local economy and will set Yorkshire on the global map.
“We have got a lot to offer in Yorkshire and this is an excellent platform to showcase what’s best about the whole area.”
Next year’s showpiece event will be the first time Le Tour has visited the north of England.
Previously it has only made visits to the south coast and the capital.
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