Cyclists in Bath are set to benefit from a further £252,100 investment to extend the newly completed Two Tunnels Greenway, it has been announced by Liberal Democrat Transport Minister, Norman Baker.
This funding boost is part of a £40m fund to improve dangerous routes and junctions across the country.
In Bath funding will be used to complete the link between the Bath-Bristol Railway Path and the Two Tunnels Greenway, which officially opened on Saturday.
Don Foster MP said: “Promoting cycling is the right thing to do and I am delighted Liberal Democrats in the Coalition Government are taking action to improve road safety.
“It is absolutely essential that people of Bath should be able to cycle to work or school in a safe environment and extending the fantastic Two Tunnels Greenway will go a long way to achieving this.
“Not only is cycling healthy and enjoyable but by getting more people out of their cars and on their bikes, we can ease congestion too and strengthen our local economy.”
Cllr Roger Symonds, B&NES Council Cabinet Member for Transport added: “Following on from the official opening of the Two Tunnels Greenway I am particularly delighted with this news for extra funding, which will allow work on one of the proposed northern links between the Greenway and the popular Bristol-Bath Railway Path to be completed in the next 12 months.”
Norman Baker, Liberal Democrat Transport Minister, said: “Cycling is healthy and reduces congestion so it is welcome news that more and more people are taking to two wheels. Ensuring this funding is targeted where improvements will make a real difference to cyclists is just one way we are ensuring this trend continues.
“This is part of the £107 million investment we have announced in cycling infrastructure over the last year, over and above the £600m we have invested through the Local Sustainable Transport Fund.
“We have launched a THINK! “Let’s Look Out For Each Other” campaign and have made it easier for councils to set 20mph speed limits and install trixi mirrors at junctions so drivers are better able to see cyclists.”
