£214m cycle plan in wake of Tour de France

A £214 MILLION funding package to make cycling safer and more popular following the success of this year’s Tour de France stages in Yorkshire has been announced by Nick Clegg.
The Tour de France attracted thousands to Yorkshire last summerThe Tour de France attracted thousands to Yorkshire last summer
The Tour de France attracted thousands to Yorkshire last summer

The Deputy Prime Minister and Sheffield Hallam MP said he wanted the country to become a nation of cyclists like Denmark or the Netherlands as he announced the funding for eight cities including Leeds and the network of strategic roads.

He said: “I want to bring cycling down from the Alps and onto British streets. The inspiration and legacy of the 2012 Olympics and the Tour de France starting in Yorkshire this year has started a revolution in cycling for everyone, not just in velodromes, not necessarily in lycra, but for going to school or to work or to the shops.

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“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.”

Some £114 million over the next three years will support the eight Cycling Ambition Cities - Bristol, Birmingham, Cambridge, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle, Norwich and Oxford - accelerate development of local cycling networks, increase protection for cyclists at dangerous junctions and help prevent accidents. Another £100 million will be invested over the next three years to improve the conditions for cyclists and walkers along the strategic road network, some of Britain’s most important and busiest routes.