- Our Continued Commitment
The securing of continuation funding from BIG Lottery will ensure that the experience of the CTC Cycle Champions Programme is continued, and extended wherever and whenever possible. CTC will continue to provide cycling for health projects.
- Our Experience
The experience of running the champions programme has given CTC the opportunity to introduce cycling for the purposes of a a healthy lifestyle, not only physical wellbeing but also for mental health, through the expertise of the Cycling Development Officers based regionally throughout the Uk.
- Our aim
The promotion of a healthy lifestyle by cycling will support the campaign driven policy delivering key evidence based messages. Through our health projects we believe that;
Cycling is excellent exercise. More cycling will help more people meet the recommended physical activity guidelines, improve their physical and mental health and well-being, while reducing their risk of premature death and ill-health.
Cycling is far more likely to benefit an individual’s health than damage it; and the more cyclists there are, the safer cycling becomes – the ‘safety in numbers’ effect.
Cycling fits into daily routines better than many other forms of exercise, because it doubles up as transport to work, school or the shops etc. It’s easier than finding extra time to visit the gym and far less costly.
Lack of exercise can make people ill. It can lead to obesity, coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke, cancers, type 2 diabetes and other life-threatening conditions.
Obesity in particular is a growing, costly burden to the health service. Without action, 60% of men, 50% of women and 25% of children will be obese by 2050 in the UK.
CHD is the UK’s biggest killer – well over 90,000 people die of it each year with over 33% of these attributable to lack of physical activity.
Unlike driving, cycling causes negligible harm to others, either through road injuries or pollution, so it’s a healthy option not just for cyclists, but for everyone else too.
