Manchester to share in £114m cycle improvements

MANCHESTER has been named as one of eight English cities that will benefit from a £114m investment in cycling.

The funding will be used to develop local cycling networks and increase protection for cyclists at junctions and traffic hot spots.

As well as Manchester the money will go to Bristol, Birmingham, Cambridge, Leeds, Newcastle, Norwich and Oxford which are all expected to bid for specific projects.

The Government said it will also commit £100m to improving the conditions for cyclists and pedestrians on the UK’s busiest roads.

Deputy prime minister Nick Clegg said: “I’m committed to helping our dream of becoming a cycling nation, similar to places like Denmark and the Netherlands, become a reality. The rewards could be massive – billions of pounds in savings for the NHS, less pollution and congestion, and a happier and safer population. In government, we’re putting the money down; now we need the public and local authorities to jump on their bikes and get us to the finish line.”

The Government is also backing a Halfords scheme which involves the retailer reconditioning and donating bikes and helmets to primary school children in disadvantaged areas.