| p>If you're on the lookout for a bike friendly city then | | | | place, Manchester into fourth place, London into 17th |
| the most recent survey by Cycling Plus monthly will | | | | place and Bradford, which came last. |
| surely be relevant to you. Out of 20 of the major cities | | | | The research sited 9 classes of significance to cyclists |
| and towns in the UK the study established that Bristol | | | | and voters were asked to rate the cities in the study |
| is the most bike-friendly. This conclusion was without | | | | on all nine categories. The categories included |
| doubt helped by the £22.8m Bristol was awarded | | | | considerations like how many cycle paths the city has, |
| following being designated as the first 'Cycling City' in | | | | how many independent cycle shops the city has, the |
| the UK by the Department of Transport in June 2008. | | | | number of residents using cycles to commute, how |
| This grant was provided in order to encourage more | | | | high the pollution levels are, the quality of the roads in |
| of the public to benefit from using cycles in Bristol by | | | | areas where cycle paths are not present and the |
| improving the infrastructure and has already paid for a | | | | frequency of bike theft. |
| cycle path next to the outer city ringroad, among other | | | | Bristol won on the number of cycle riders and cycle |
| infrastructure improvements. In all £100m was | | | | shops, lower pollution and the extent of its traffic free |
| granted to increase cycling in the UK, other towns to | | | | cycle paths, still local Bristol bikers are not completely |
| get financial support being Cambridge, Colchester, | | | | content with the pace of development, considering it |
| Leighton Buzzard, York, Stoke, Blackpool, Chester, | | | | nevertheless too gradual. Bristol at present has a plan |
| Southend, Shrewsbury, Southport and Woking. | | | | to create sixteen cycle pathways in and around the |
| The report excluded some of the cities traditionally | | | | city, all paid for by the Cycling City awards, and |
| associated with cycling, such as Cambridge and York, | | | | development has started on a 4 mile pathway to |
| because these do not belong in the largest 20 UK | | | | provide a safe cycle link connecting the adjoining |
| cities by population. Bristol beat Leicester into third | | | | villages with the city. |