§ Mr. David TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the progress in the construction of cycle routes in(a) North West Leicestershire, (b) Leicestershire and (c) the United Kingdom; and what measures he is taking to encourage cycling. [91821]
§ Ms Glenda Jackson[holding answer 22 July 1999]: The responsibility for providing cycling facilities rests with individual local highway authorities. Statistics on cycle routes are not available centrally.
We expect all local authorities to develop local cycling strategies as part of their local transport plans. Good progress is being made in implementing the National Cycling Strategy, although it will take time for better provision for cyclists to feed through fully.
In addition, the first 3,500 miles of the National Cycle Network, being co-ordinated by the cycle charity, Sustrans, will be completed by mid-summer 2000.