Ealing becomes one of Boris's biking boroughs

As part of the Capital's 'year of cycling' scheme, a study will now begin to identify how cycling in Ealing will be developed, which could include working with schools, Ealing Primary Care Trust and businesses.

Councillor David Millican, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Transport, said: "This is welcome news for Ealing and as a keen cyclist I am all for encouraging others to travel by bicycle, whether it's to explore the borough or commute to work.

"It's a healthy, low-cost and environmentally friendly way to travel and can often be the quickest way to get somewhere."

Kulveer Ranger, the Mayor of London's Transport Advisor, said: "2010 is set to be the year of cycling in the Capital, with the launch of London's Cycle Hire scheme and the first two Cycle Superhighways.

"However, it's in outer London that the greatest scope exists to increase the number of people travelling by bicycle.

"It's staggering that half of all car trips in outer London are less than two miles in length, a distance you can cover on a bike in around 10 minutes."

But Jenny Jones, the London Assembly Green Party Member claims the money is 'pathetically small'.

She said: "Boris has previously said that he wants a 400per cent increase in cycling in London by 2025 and that nearly two thirds of that increase will need to come from cycling scheme in outer London.

"We have a Zone One cycling Mayor who is giving a pathetically small amount to promote cycling in Outer London whilst spending over two hundred million pounds on cycling for Inner London.

"If the London Mayor is serious about promoting cycling then he should be giving each borough £25m rather than £25,000."

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