Cycling can 'help make Australia the healthiest country'

The Cycling Promotion Fund (CPF) has called on the Australian Federal Government to promote cycling in mass marketing campaigns and to establish targets to increase participation in cycling.

These suggestions are among 17 recommendations that the CPF, a not for profit group funded by the bicycle industry, has made to the National Preventative Health Taskforce.

The Cycling Promotion Fund submission sets out the opportunities cycling offers to tackle the rise of overweight and obesity and help make Australia the healthiest country by 2020.

It provides both global and specific recommendations in response to the seven major priorities outlined in the Taskforce Discussion and Technical papers.

Other CPF recommendations to the Taskforce include developing and supporting a nationally consistent best practice model for a cycling/active transport to school program; the provision of bicycle infrastructure and encouragement programs; developing a nationally consistent bicycle skills training program; the introduction of travel demand management techniques to reduce unnecessary car use and make active forms of transport more attractive; and the establishment of a National Preventative Health Agency.

For more information email: office@cyclingpromotion.com.au, www.cyclingpromotion.com.au/