Whilst I know this is a running blog, I have been interested with the progress of the Times newspaper's recent cycling campaign, which can be found on the attached link:

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/cyclesafety/contact   

I see that the campaign has already provoked a Parliamentary debate and that it appears to be gaining some real momentum. I have already pledged my support, together with some less well known figures like Sir Chris Hoy, Boris Johnson and Gabby Logan. Essentially, it is designed to act as a pressure group with an 8 point plan for improving conditions for cycling and making cycling safer and more accessible. I was reading in the Times that in Copenhagen more than half of the population cycles to work - in Manchester, I cannot imagine it is more than 1%. Having travelled to cities like Melbourne and Munich, I have first hand experience of how geared up other cities are, not just for cycling, but for running too, with well marked paths crossing through these cities to encourage people to get out, keep fit and use their cars less.

At this point, I should mention my good mate Andy Compson, who I met whilst studying in Oxford. I hope Andy doesn't mind me saying but although he was extremely interested in sport when I met him (if you can call supporting Swindon Town being "interested in sport"), he never showed much interest when I told him I was going for a run. Nearly 7 years ago, Andy got a job in Melbourne, where he threw himself into the Australian way of life and started to run and cycle seriously. A 10k soon became a marathon and a marathon became a triathlon and last month, Andy completed his first ever ironman in a shade over 10 hours - phenomenal, for someone who only took up the sport relatively recently. I am sure that the many cycle routes and paths that are on Andy's door step have helped him develop his new found sporting passion. I'm sure there are a few people reading this who are thinking that Melbourne's climate makes it so much easier to keep active, but then again, it can get cold in Melbourne in winter too and people cycle there all year round. And as for Munich - it has been minus 20 there this week!

So what might the Times campaign do for running?

When I moved back to Manchester in 2002, I remember going out for one of my first runs and running up the A56 from Sale to Old Trafford and back. As those who know that route will be aware, it is incredibly busy with traffic and not the best place to run, as you have to cross a number of busy junctions, including the junction with the M60 motorway. As I re-familiarised myself with South Manchester, I slowly found better places to run, but in the winter especially, I was often on the road, only inches from the traffic. Although I'm a dedicated runner, I'm sure this probably puts a lot of people off, who might consider doing a bit more running, if the provision for it was a bit better.

About 4 years ago, a project to make the towpath next to the Bridgewater Canal between Sale and Stretford was undertaken to make a proper path alongside the canal. This has been a brilliant addition to the local area and even at night, there is sufficient residual street lighting to make it perfectly runable, if a little eerie, (especially if a fox jumps out at you, as one did to me on Monday.) I use this route 5 or 6 times a week and it makes my running so much more pleasant. The only thing remaining now is for local government/private companies to complete what they started and finish the rest of the path between Stretford and Manchester itself. Currently, the path peters out at Stretford and turns into a muddy trench along the canal through Trafford Park which, in the dark, is treacherously slippy. One false move and you are in the drink and believe me, you don't want to be gulping in mouthfuls of the Bridgewater.

In an age where we are constantly looking for solutions to cut down car CO2 emissions/get people fitter and spend less money on public transport services, it seems a no brainer to complete this project. If the Times cycling campaign can help in this respect then I'm all for it, I'd certainly happily share my route with a few cyclists, if that was the price I had to pay.

If you could pledge your support for the campaign too, that would be great.