§ Mr. Dormandasked the Secretary of State for Transport which local authorities have been offered centrally funded urban cycling schemes; which have accepted; and whether additional such schemes are to be offered.
§ Mrs. ChalkerAll local highway authorities were invited, in the cycling consultation paper issued in May 1981 and in the cycling policy statement of January 1982, to put forward proposals for innovatory cycle schemes to be included in the Department's research programme. To date, schemes have been funded in Greater London and the following countries — Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Cleveland, Derbyshire, Essex, Lancashire, North Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Surrey and West Sussex.
The Department would welcome further innovatory proposals, particularly to deal with the problems cyclists face at urban road junctions, and is also considering proposals for one or two large-scale projects designed to monitor the effect on cycling demand of developing a continuous urban route or network.
§ Mr. Dormandasked the Secretary of State for Transport what advice is given to local authorities concerning the provision of cycling facilities where the building of new roads is authorised by his Department.
§ Mrs. ChalkerAll roads, other than trunk roads, are the responsibility of local highway authorities and their construction does not require authorisation by my Department, although the expenditure may be covered by transport supplementary grant. We have encouraged local authorities to provide cycling facilities by offering technical advice and financial support. However, it is for local authorities to decide what provision to make in particular cases in the light of local circumstances.