Olympic gold medallist to lead new government body

Cyclist Chris Boardman, who won an individual pursuit gold medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics,  is to become national commissioner of the government’s new cycling and walking body, Active Travel England (ATE). 

ATE launches today and will be responsible for cycling and walking infrastructure, as well as managing the national active travel budget. 

Mr Boardman’s responsibilities will involve the recruitment of the chief executive and management team. However, the appointment is only on an interim basis, while the Department for Transport (DfT) conducts a full and open competition for the permanent commissioner role.

Commenting on the role, England’s new Active Travel Commissioner, Chris Boardman said: “The positive effects of high levels of cycling and walking are clearly visible in pockets around the country where people have been given easy and safe alternatives to driving. Perhaps most important of all, though, it makes for better places to live while helping both the NHS and our mission to decarbonise”.