The Coalition Government has announced a massive boost for cyclists with nearly £150m to make cycling easier and safer.

£77m will be divided between Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham, Newcastle, Bristol, Cambridge, Oxford and Norwich, while the New Forest, Peak District, South Downs and Dartmoor will each share a slice of £17m funding for national parks. With local contributions, the total new funding for cycling is worth £148m between now and 2015.

Liberal Democrat Transport Minister Norman Baker has made investment in cycling a priority for the Government, including setting up the £600m Local Sustainable Transport Fund to invest in local cycling and green transport schemes.

Commenting, Norman Baker said:

“Cycling is not just the cheapest, greenest and healthiest way to get around, on congested city streets it’s often the fastest form of travel too. That’s why I and my Liberal Democrat colleagues have made it a priority in Government.

“Liberal Democrats are building a stronger economy and a fairer society, and investing in cycling is part of that.

“We want to turn Britain into a cycling nation to rival countries like the Netherlands and Germany. That needs careful planning, so today’s announcement includes wider measures to ensure the needs of cyclists are considered right at the start of road infrastructure schemes.”