A BID to turn Colchester into a Cycling Town has already seen the number of people getting on their bikes jump by ten per cent.

Work started on spending £4.2 million of Government and local authority money last year, after Colchester was named one of 12 towns and cities to get Cycling Town status.

Surveys of 11 of the borough’s cycle counters suggest the number of cyclists has already risen by ten per cent since last year.

Will Bramhill, of Colchester Cycling Campaign, said: “We’re delighted to see more people on their bikes.

“It is a very efficient anti-congestion measure as one more bike equals one less car.

“It’s especially encouraging to see this happening in the winter and bodes well for the spring.”

Organisers have been set a target of increasing the number of regular cyclists by 75 per cent over the next three years, as well as increasing the number of people cycling to work and school.

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