HC Deb 31 July 1975 vol 896 cc562-3W
Mr. Whitehead

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has for new road signs indicating priority for cyclists.

Mr. Carmichael

Advice about signs for various kinds of cycling facilities is being prepared. My right hon. Friend hopes to send it to all local authorities soon. Information about some new signs will be included.

Mr. Whitehead

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many miles of priority cycleway are now in use; and how many are planned;

(2) what was the expenditure on construction of priority cycleways during 1974; and what were the comparable figures for Government expenditure in the other eight EEC countries and in the United States of America.

Mr. Carmichael

I take priority cycle-way to mean a track for cyclists completely separated physically from the carriageway for motor traffic. Responsibility for provision of this kind rests with the local authorities. No national statistics are maintained of the total mileage of existing cycleways, or of the expenditure on cycleway construction during 1974 or other years. I am not aware that such data are available for other countries. I cannot therefore make the comparison requested, nor do I know how many cycleways local authorities may be planning.