This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Investment in national cycling network
20/11/2002
The Executive has awarded a £1.5 million grant to UK-transport charity SUSTRANS to improve Scotland's national cycling network.
The grant is the largest single award the Executive has made to the sustainable transport charity that works on practical projects to encourage people to walk, cycle and use public transport in order to reduce motor traffic and its adverse effects.
It will cover projects including:
- £1.240 million, the biggest single grant made to SUSTRANS, to upgrade 34 km of off-road paths in the network.
- £57,000 to improve railings and parapets on 28 bridges used by cyclists.
- £65,000 to install 20 solar-powered cycle counters to monitor use of the cycling network.
- £30,000 to construct a toucan crossing on the Irvine-Kilmarnock cycle route to allow cyclists and pedestrians safe passage across a very busy local road and complete a key 'missing link' in the network.
- £70,300 to promote the cycling network through improved signage, interpretation boards and local information leaflets for the Paisley-Kilbirnie, Paisley-Greenock and Airdrie-Bathgate rail routes.
Deputy Transport Minister Lewis Macdonald said:
"This grant is our largest investment in cycling to date and will allow upgrading of cycling tracks around Scotland encouraging more people to walk and use bicycles.
"The most heavily-used cycling paths can be resurfaced, benefiting current users as well as encouraging more people to make use of them in the future. It is vital that we encourage cycling and walking as they bring significant health benefits. Both are also environmentally friendly and inexpensive so adults and children can get involved.
"The Executive's National Cycling Strategy aims to promote alternatives to car travel by encouraging people to cycle or walk to work or for leisure.
"We recently published the "Survey of Cycling in Scotland" which showed that there is a significant increase in the number of short trips made by bicycle since 1997, with an increasing number of adults actively choosing to cycle. The Executive is committed to reducing congestion in Scotland and we are keen to see more adults travelling short distances by bike.
"We recently awarded £59 million under the Public Transport Fund for 23 local public transport projects and last week I was pleased to announce the projects that will be funded by £8 million from the PTF specifically for Cycling, Walking and Safer Streets projects.
"We are committed to delivering real and tangible improvements to facilities for cycling and walking and today's announcement contributes towards that aim."
Mr Macdonald continued:
"This will make a significant, value-for-money contribution and a huge difference to cycling facilities across Scotland in the very near future."
SUSTRANS is an UK-based charity group with a proven record of partnership working. It works on practical projects to encourage people to walk, cycle and use public transport. SUSTRANS' National Cycle Network aims to create 10,000 miles of routes throughout the UK.
The Executive previously contributed £150,000 in 2001-2002 to SUSTRANS and a further £135,000 over two years until 2004 to complete other projects improving the National Cycling Network.
Today's grant of £1.462 million comes from current funds in the Integrated Transport Fund.