§ Mr. DowdTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what progress his Department has made in implementing a pilot cycle route in the Belfast urban area; [7373]
(2) how many miles of dedicated cycle routes there are currently in Northern Ireland; and if he will list them. [7374]
§ Mr. MossResponsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Roads Service under its chief executive, Mr. W. J. McCoubrey. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
809WLetter from W.J. McCoubrey to Mr. Jim Dowd, dated 5 December 1996:
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me to reply to your questions about dedicated cycle routes in Northern Ireland and about the implementation of a pilot cycle route in the Belfast urban area.At present dedicated cycle facilities exist at:Craigavon new town development: Some 15 milesBelfast, Sydenham By-pass: Some 6 milesBelfast, Tillysburn—Palace Barracks, Hollywood: Some 2 milesYou may also be interested to know that Roads Service has entered into a partnership with Sustrans, the Bristol based cycling charity, to assist in developing the Northern Ireland part of the National Cycle Network. This is expected to result in the development of some 380 miles of cycle route, much of which will be along lightly trafficked rural roads. The stage has been reached where the framework report has been largely agreed. Subject to a satisfactory outcome from an investment appraisal and subsequently, to the legislative and statutory consultative procedures, it is hoped to have the first lengths of the network under construction in the summer of 1997.Unfortunately, legislative difficulties have arisen which have delayed introduction of the pilot scheme referred to in "Transportation in Northern Ireland: The Way Forward". It had been intended that a length of dedicated cycle route of mixed type—for example, segregated sections for cyclists only, sections shared by cyclists and pedestrians—should be introduced from the University of Ulster at Jordanstown to Rushpark on the Shore Road in Belfast. By mixing the types of route their relative performance could be monitored. Progress is continuing on this, but it has been slower than originally intended. This length will now be incorporated into one of the early stages of the National Cycle Network to be developed in 1997.I hope that you will find this information helpful.