§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he has taken in the last six months to protect the safety of cyclists, with particular reference to those on rural roads. [54910]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonForty per cent. fewer cyclists were killed or seriously injured on our roads in 1997 compared with the 1981–85 annual average. We are continuing to build on this improvement by encouraging local authorities to provide for safe cycling in their transport policies and programmes. £50 million funding was made available in 1998–99 for local safety schemes and traffic calming measures which have proven safety benefits for vulnerable road users, including cyclists. It is for local authorities to decide on which roads their work to improve the safety of cyclists will be most effective.
We have also continued with our road safety education, publicity and research projects concerning cyclists' safety.