§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if his Department will help fund the proposed 1,000-mile strategic cycle route network for London: and if he will make a statement;
(2) when he expects work to start on the proposed 1,000-mile strategic route network for London;
(3) what discussions his Department is having to ensure that each of the 32 London borough councils implement their part in the proposed 1,000-mile strategic cycle route network for London; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NorrisThe 1,000-mile strategic cycle network for London was developed by, and is the responsibility of, the London Cycling Forum, a working party of the London Planning Advisory Committee. The Department is an active member.
The strategic network has the full support of the Department. The majority of routes in London—about 96 per cent.—are on local roads and cycle facilities there will be for the London boroughs to provide. Cycle routes identified on trunk roads and crossing points on the trunk 510W road network will either be provided as part of the trunk road improvement programme or through the trunk road priority route local plans.
From information available from LCF, approximately 125 miles of the cycle network is already in existence with 220 miles in preparation.
Expenditure on the provision of cycle facilities on local roads is eligible for transport supplementary grant, although it is not separately identified in the annual settlement. The traffic director for London will also fund the development and introduction of cycle facilities which he approves as part of the priority—red—route local plan process.
My Department and the traffic director for London participate in meetings of the borough cycling officer group, which was set up to discuss provision of the strategic cycle network and cycle matters in general.