To ask Her Majesty's Government how they plan to further improve road safety for cyclists.
Answered on
16 July 2014
This government has committed £374m (£622m with match funding) to increase cycling and make it safer. This includes £35 million to improve safety at road junctions, of which £20 million will be spent on improvements in 81 locations around England and £15 million for improvements in London.
In August 2013, the Prime Minister announced his commitment to cycle proofing so that all new trunk roads and improvement schemes will be designed with cyclists in mind. The Department for Transport's Cycle Proofing Working Group is looking into training of highway engineers, sharing of best practice and the barriers to better infrastructure for cyclists. Work to cycle proof the strategic road network is underway, with a number of schemes already delivered, or due to be delivered in 2014/15.
We have extended our commitment to Bikeability cycle training for children to 2015/16 and plan to deliver training to a further 616,000 children on top of the 1 million already trained. The scheme teaches children (and some adults) how to ride a bicycle safely and responsibly as well as the importance of all road users understanding the Highway Code.
The Department for Transport is developing a Cycling and Walking Delivery Plan due for publication this summer, which will set out, amongst other things, how we plan to further improve road safety for cyclists.