Cycle funding could mean extended Cycle Superhighway network

Tour de France cyclists On Thursday 27 November, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg announced �114 million to secure funding to support the Cycling Ambition Cities Programme in Leeds, Bristol, Birmingham, Cambridge, Manchester, Newcastle, Norwich and Oxford over the next three years to accelerate their development of local cycling networks.

Triumphant

Welcoming the announcement Combined Authority Transport Committee Chair, Cllr James Lewis said,�This funding will enhance the work already underway to create build a legacy befitting this year�s triumphant Grand D�part.

�We are about to start constructing on Cityconnect, linking Leeds and Bradford, after a constructive consultation process that involved us speaking to cycling groups, 13,000 residents and business owners along the route of what will be the country�s largest cycle superhighway.

�Cycling is an integral part of our transport plans and we will be using this funding to build upon the success of the Tour and develop it further by extending the cycle superhighway network with more routes.�

Improved safety

He continued �Additionally the planned 14.8km NGT route between Stourton and Holt Park will result in a 4km increase in cycle lane provision. This includes almost 1km of segregated two-way cycleway behind the back of the Arndale Centre enabling cyclists to bypass central Headingley and improved safety measure for cyclists will also be improved at key junctions including Lawnswood and Hyde Park Corner.

�And Go:Cycling has provided training for almost 2,500 people wanting to cycle safely to and from work and Leeds Cycling groups and organisations that promote safe cycling and make refurbished bikes available to people for whom new ones may be inaccessible, have benefitted from over �20,000 of funding from the project."

Find out more about