Cycle schemes in North West England will receive nearly three times as much financial support from a newly announced funding package compared to bicycle projects in any other region.

Transport Minister Norman Baker told Parliament on Monday that £40M has been allocated to improve dangerous routes and junctions at 78 locations across England. Around half comes from Government grants and half from local authority match funding. All schemes are set to be completed within a year.

North West England will receive £14.7M in funding, compared to £5.5M for the South East. The East of England gets £5.3M, the North East has been promised £3.3M and the East Midlands receives £3.2M. South West England is to get £3.1M, Yorkshire & Humber £2.6M and the West Midlands £1.5M.

Three of the 78 schemes cost more than £2M: a cycling corridor between Wigan and Worsley Hall, a safety improvement at Gosforth near Newcastle and a cycle bridge over the A14 in Suffolk. Many schemes cost much less and include two junction improvements in Worcestershire valued at just £5000 each.

This latest announcement on cycle funding forms part of a £107M investment already announced for cycling infrastructure and is in addition to £600M invested through the Local Sustainable Transport Fund.

Government figures released on Tuesday show 10% of adults in England cycle at least once a week and three percent cycle at least five times a week. Cycle use is greatest among those living in Cambridge, Oxford and York.

Photo: Ron Saunders

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