§ Mr. SimmondsTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many cycle routes there are in England; and what plans his Department has to improve safety for cyclists. [182169]
§ Dr. HowellsCycle routes are in the main the responsibility of local highway authorities. A cycle route will often consist of a variety of linked highways such as dedicated cycle tracks, cycle lanes on the carriageway and the use of roads designated as suitable for cycle routes. Sustrans, the Transport charity, predict that the National Cycle Network will consist of 10,000 miles by the end of 2005. In addition local authorities forecast building over 6,000 miles of new cycle lanes and cycle tracks over between 2001–02 arid 2005–06.
652WWe have a safer cycling programme, which is a package of measures including improved infrastructure—better cycle routes, off road cycle tracks, cycle lanes, advance stop lines, toucan crossings etc., better driving standards by improving training and testing for motorists, and publicity aimed both at drivers and cyclists. It also covers the promotion of measures which cyclists can take to protect themselves, such as taking cycle training, making themselves conspicuous and wearing a cycle helmet.
We have also recently published an "Action Plan for Walking and Cycling", which sets out more than 40 actions from across Government to make cycling and walking easier, safer and more attractive, enabling people to get around more by foot and by bicycle. One of the actions will be to fund new sections of the National Cycle Network to link with existing safe cycling and walking routes to schools.
§ Miss McIntoshTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many footpaths and footways had their status formally changed in each of the past three years in order to allow cyclists to use them legally. [181684]
§ Dr. HowellsThe conversion of footways (the pavement) under the Highways Act 1980 is a local highway authority function in which the Secretary of State has no formal role. We therefore have no details of the number of footway conversions.
Powers are available in the Cycle Tracks Act 1984 to enable local highway authorities to convert footpaths (as opposed to pavements) to cycle tracks. Only orders which are opposed by any party are referred to the Secretary of State for confirmation. Details of this subset of cases referred to the Secretary of State in each of the last three years and to date in 2004 are set out in the following table:
2001 2002 2003 2004 Cycle track orders confirmed 4 5 1 2 Cycle track orders not confirmed 2 1 2 0 Awaiting determination 3 2 2 3 Total 9 8 5 5
§ Miss McIntoshTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his Answer of 16 June 2004,Official Report, columns 934-5W, (1) on pedestrian/ cyclist accidents, what assessment he has made of (a) the problems caused by cyclists using footpaths to access destinations adequately served by cycle paths and roads and (b) the reasons cyclists do this; [181685]
(2) if he will commission research into (a) the implications of allowing cyclists to use footpaths and pavements and (b) the effects on older people of cyclists using footpaths and pavements.[181681]
§ Dr. HowellsThe Department has not carried out any formal assessment of the problems caused by cyclists cycling illegally on footpaths and footways (the pavement) and we have no plans to commission specific research into the subject. We are however aware from our post bag that many pedestrians, particularly elderly and disabled people are concerned at the danger and inconvenience caused by cyclists who cycle illegally on footpaths and pavements.
653WWhile we do not condone it, we believe that some cyclists cycle on the pavement because they feel safer there than cycling on heavily trafficked roads. We hope that as facilities for cyclists and cyclist training improve, cyclists will feel safer on the road and that the number of cyclists using footpaths and footways illegally will reduce.
Local Transport Note 2/86 (Stationery Office) concerns Shared Use by Cyclists and Pedestrians. This advises local highway authorities that such shared use facilities are not a general or area-wide remedy to cycle safety problems but should be confined to specific links in cycle routes and quiet footways along heavily trafficked roads. The guidance also advises that shared use may be unacceptable if significant use is made of a pedestrian facility by disabled, blind or partially sighted or elderly people.