£5m scheme gets 50 per cent more on their bikes

A £5 million scheme to get people out of cars and on their bikes has seen the number of cyclists soar in south London.

The number of people cycling in Sutton has risen by 50 per cent. Smarter Travel Sutton also cut bike theft by 17 per cent after the introduction of 200 secure cycle parking spaces.

The number of people travelling by bus and on foot also rose significantly after the launch of the programme, which was jointly funded by Sutton council and Transport for London.

Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: "The fact that this initiative has led many in Sutton to take to two wheels is great news for the environment and the wellbeing of people in the borough.

"Cycling currently represents just one per cent of journeys in London, so I hope the experience of Sutton will help to encourage more people to get cycling thereby reducing pollution and helping to tackle congestion."