Cycling (Hansard, 2 June 1992)

§ Ms. Walley
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research has been done by his Department or commissioned by him to assess the significance of cycling from the perspectives of(a) environmental protection, (b) health and (c) energy efficiency; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
The cycling research projects undertaken by or on behalf of the Department in recent years have primarily been concerned with establishing means of improving traffic conditions for cyclists, particularly their safety. The three perspectives specified have not so far formed the subject of specific research projects.

§ Ms. Walley
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those posts in his Department which have a specific remit to promote cycling(a) nationally and (b) at regional level; and how many of them are currently filled.

§ Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
The Department aims to improve conditions for cycling, with emphasis given to making it safer. We do not have any posts with a specific remit to promote cycling, but a substantial number of staff at HQ, in regional offices and at the Transport Research Laboratory undertake cycling work of various kinds.

§ Ms. Walley
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those areas where regional offices have advised on specific inclusion of safe cycle routes and of those list those which have received funding from his Department; and what percentage these schemes are of the overall spending.

§ Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
This information is not held centrally, and could be collected only at disproportionate cost.
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§ Ms. Walley
To ask the Secetary of State for Transport what response he has made to the representations of the Cyclists Touring Club.

§ Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
The Department has regular contacts with the Cyclists' Touring Club at official level. I would be pleased to agree to a request to meet CTC representatives soon.

§ Ms. Walley
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will introduce targets to raise the level of cycle use within all local authority areas.

§ Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
No. Levels of demand for cycling, the need for facilities, and the resources, vary considerably across the country. Decisions on appropriate levels of provision for an area should be agreed by the relevant local authorities.

§ Ms. Walley
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give the number of traffic surveys carried out or funded by his Department over each of the last five years and say how many of those recorded cycling.

§ Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
This information is not available centrally, and could be collected only at disproportionate cost.

§ Ms. Walley
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what account has been taken of cycling in his Department's contribution to the United Nations Earth summit in Brazil.

§ Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
The Government recognise that cycling is an efficient and environmentally friendly mode of transport. Agenda 21, an action plan to guide the world community towards sustainable development, which will be launched at the conference, recommends that all countries should encourage non-motorised modes of transport by providing safe cycleways and footpaths in urban and suburban centres as appropriate. The Government support this recommendation.

§ Ms. Walley
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of journeys in the United Kingdom are currently made by bicycle; and if he has comparable figures for the percentage of bicycle journeys in other European countries.

§ Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
The 1985–86 national travel survey indicates that 2.3 per cent. of all journeys of I mile or more are made by cycle. We have no comparable data for other European countries.

§ Ms. Walley
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what talks he has had with British Rail to require guarantees about reasonable cycle access to rolling stock;
(2) if he will require all new orders for rolling stock to be built to a specification to incorporate cycle accommodation.

§ Mr. Freeman
The design of rolling stock is a matter for British Rail. BR's policy regarding cycles is to seek to accommodate them whenever possible. However, particularly at peak times on the busier routes, they must balance the interests of cyclists and those of other passengers.

§ Ms. Walley
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what activity his Department is planning as its participation in national bike week.
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§ Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
I understand there is no particular national focus, or major launch for national bike week which is taking place between 20 and 28 June. The emphasis this year has been placed on local fun rides, races, educational events and demonstrations. There are a number of charity bike rides planned. These include the annual London to Brighton ride on 21 June, which regularly includes riders from the Department of Transport.