Hoy asks for local action to prevent obesity

After a national study conducted by Cycling Scotland revealed certain local councils were not providing adequate facilities to encourage participation in cycling, nor sufficiently promoting the sport, local resident and Athens Olympic gold medallist in the Kilo, Chris Hoy, fears a growing obesity problem within the country if proper steps are not taken.

"Our children are becoming obese and our roads are choked with cars," Hoy was reported to have said to UK newspaper Evening Times. "But we have an opportunity to change that."

"We need to do more to convince everyone to get on their bikes - and local authorities are key to that. This national assessment should serve as a wake-up call to local and national government, and shows there is a long way to go if we want cycling take-up anywhere near as high as our European neighbours," he added.

32 local authorities agreed to take part in the year-long study. Glasgow City Council was one of the more proactive councils in terms of its provision of infrastructure for cyclists, with Cycling Scotland commending the city for its innovative schemes used to promote cycling.