§ 35. Sir W. SUGDENasked the Minister of Transport what is the length of tracks specially laid down alongside the roads for the use of pedal cyclists in Great Britain; and has he issued any notice as to their use in view of their present insignificant length?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAThe experiment of laying down cycle tracks has only recently been instituted on 4½ miles of Western Avenue, and one mile on the Stony Stratford-Wolverton road. I have issued no notice about their use, but observation shows that where they exist cyclists use them in preference to the main carriageway.
§ Sir W. SUGDENCan my hon. Friend tell me whether or not the number of accidents has been lessened in the slightest degree as a result of the use of these tracks?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAI cannot give my hon. Friend any statistics about these short lengths of road, but it stands to reason that if traffic is segregated it reduces the risk of accidents.
§ Sir W. SUGDENWill my hon. Friend issue to us a copy of the evidence to prove that it has the slightest effect in preventing accidents?
§ Mr. WESTWould it not be possible for these tracks to be constructed in just those places where there are most fatalities, that is, on the streets of our great cities?
§ Sir W. BRASSWould it not be better to have them somewhere, anyway, if we cannot have them in the places where the hon. Member wants them?
§ 39. Mr. WESTasked the Minister of Transport what is the length of the cycle path on Western Avenue; and what was the cost per mile?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHATwo cycle tracks have been provided on Western Avenue, one on each side of the road. 1705 Each track is approximately 2¼ miles in length, and the cost per mile of single track was approximately £1,750.
§ 40. Mr. WESTasked the Minister of Transport what is the estimated cost of constructing cycle tracks on all the first-class roads of Great Britain?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAAs the value, availability and suitability of land for this purpose varies from mile to mile, the hon. Gentleman will appreciate that it is not practicable to give a figure.
§ Mr. WESTCan the Minister give us an approximate estimate of the cost; and would it not be somewhere in the region of £100,000,000 for these tracks for cyclists to be built?
§ Sir W. BRASSIs it not the fact that these cycle tracks do not need anything like the foundations that ordinary roads require?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHACertainly; and the cost of building a carriage way for heavier traffic is many times more expensive than the cost of making cycle tracks.
§ Sir W. SUGDENHas my hon. Friend considered having these proposed cycle tracks put down on other than the first-class roads?