Cheerio Cycling England then

http://www.bikebiz.com/news/33018/LibDem-Minister-kills-Cycling-England

Cycling England board member Lynn Sloman said: "If the Government is to build on the last five years’ progress in getting more people cycling, it will need to do more than simply allocate grants.

"Cycling England’s experience is that in order to get results, you need to cut through the red tape, and really support, engage, enthuse and challenge. You need to combine the energy and passion of the cycling NGOs with the expertise of professional local authority teams; you need to share ideas and experience; and you need visionary leadership."

While Norman Baker is the name on Cycling England's death warrant, the real decision maker was Transport Secretary Philip Hammond. He's a motoring enthusiast who, upon moving into the post, said he enjoyed taking his Jaguar car on empty stretches of road.

In a 'future of transport' speech at the recent Conservative party conference Hammond didn't mention cycling once but told delegates congested British cities would be relieved when more electric cars came on the market (cars that are the same physical size as petrol cars).

Motorists who buy electric cars will be gifted with £5000 sweeteners.

Cyclists, however, from March 2011, will be sidelined. No longer will cycling have an umbrella body which can talk directly, and with authority, to Government departments.