British Cycling has welcomed the announcement today by the Department for Transport of 78 cycle safety schemes which will benefit from £40million of national and local government investment.
As the national governing body for cycling, British Cycling worked with the Department for Transport in selecting the proposals to improve the design and layout of roads in towns and cities across in England.
Martin Gibbs, British Cycling director of policy, said: "All these schemes were selected from a large number of proposals on the basis that they will make cycling safer which we know is key to getting more people on bikes.
“The investment will pay real dividends because more people on bikes means a healthier population requiring less help from the NHS.
"Reducing congestion will make our towns and cities better places to live and if we want to continue to produce Tour de France winners and Olympic and Paralympic champions, we need as many people cycling as possible, especially young people.
"The investment will pay real dividends because more people on bikes means a healthier population requiring less help from the NHS."
Martin Gibbs, British Cycling Policy and Legal Affairs Director
"So this announcement is good news but to affect a real step change in cycling habits across the country we need a commitment from national government to put cycling at the heart of all transport policy and to make a sustained commitment to invest in it."
The schemes cover every English region apart from London, which is overseen by Transport for London.
Transport Minister Norman Baker said: "Cycling is healthy and reduces congestion so it is welcome news that more and more people are taking to two wheels.
"Ensuring this funding is targeted where improvements will make a real difference to cyclists is just one way we are ensuring this trend continues. "
Road Safety Minister Stephen Hammond said: "This money will enable local authorities to put in place well-targeted measures to protect cyclists across the country."
