CYCLING has many merits: it aids fitness, reduces traffic, saves vehicle fuel bills, gets us outside, and I personally find it enjoyable.

Taunton already has a cycle-to-work rate of 9 per cent, which is double the national average. But many more people might be encouraged to take to their bikes especially for work journeys (many of which are less than two miles in length) if the cycle network was more comprehensive.

Often what seems like a bona fide cycle route simply peters out as I discovered when I tried to cycle from Chestnut Drive through Hilly Fields to Taunton centre. I ended up backtracking, ultimately having to join the main road at Holway Avenue. This is the kind of thing that puts people off cycling, especially parents with young children.

The Taunton Area Cycling Campaign has a commendable plan to double cycling to work in 20 years and I fully support their endeavours.

They have produced an excellent map to link up current cycle ways and tackle hotspots and are working with both the local district council, the county council and the Local Enterprise Partnership on funding opportunities.

I am pleased cycle and pedestrian improvements were included in a recent bid to the Government’s Future High Streets Fund locally. It is also crucial that Somerset County Council’s (SCC) Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan sets out a clear framework for Taunton Garden Town, something I’ll be stressing to SCC cycling portfolio holder, Cllr Woodman.

CYCLING has many merits: it aids fitness, reduces traffic, saves vehicle fuel bills, gets us outside, and I personally find it enjoyable.

Taunton already has a cycle-to-work rate of 9 per cent, which is double the national average. But many more people might be encouraged to take to their bikes especially for work journeys (many of which are less than two miles in length) if the cycle network was more comprehensive.

Often what seems like a bona fide cycle route simply peters out as I discovered when I tried to cycle from Chestnut Drive through Hilly Fields to Taunton centre. I ended up backtracking, ultimately having to join the main road at Holway Avenue. This is the kind of thing that puts people off cycling, especially parents with young children.

The Taunton Area Cycling Campaign has a commendable plan to double cycling to work in 20 years and I fully support their endeavours.

They have produced an excellent map to link up current cycle ways and tackle hotspots and are working with both the local district council, the county council and the Local Enterprise Partnership on funding opportunities.

I am pleased cycle and pedestrian improvements were included in a recent bid to the Government’s Future High Streets Fund locally.

It is also crucial that Somerset County Council’s (SCC) Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan sets out a clear framework for Taunton Garden Town, something I’ll be stressing to SCC cycling portfolio holder, Cllr Woodman.

Safer cycling infrastructure is necessary at junctions and roundabouts including at junction 25 on the M5 and there are much needed links between Wellington and Taunton (a Sustrans feasibility is informing options along the busy A38); from Kingston St Mary to Taunton (including through the Staplegrove developments); Bishops Lydeard to Taunton and through Firepool from Taunton rail station. I also encourage Parish Councils to spend some of their Community Infrastructure Levy funding on cycle and walkways to benefit the local community.

I also encourage parish councils to spend some of their Community Infrastructure Levy funding on cycle and walkways to benefit the community.

While I support Government’s Cycling and Walking Action Plan, I’m tackling Transport Ministers to urge them to allocate funds not just to cities but to rural areas like ours too.

Finally, my bike has had a great make over from local charity, On Your Bike.