Minister hits out as bike lanes ‘ unused’

GRANT SHAPPS has admonished councils for allowing traffic congestion as a result of newlycreated cycle lanes being left unused.

In a letter seen by a Sunday newspaper, the Transport Secretary warned local authorities he is “not prepared to tolerate” illconceived road closures due to cycle lanes.

A £ 250m “emergency active travel fund” for England to encourage councils to create wider pavements, more bike lanes with cycle space and safer junctions was announced by the Government in May.

The plans will be funded by a £ 2bn investment announced in February. At the time, Boris Johnson urged drivers to “be courteous” towards cyclists as he unveiled “the most ambitious package ever” to boost cycling.

The Transport Secretary said he had noticed a “notable number of councils used their funding poorly and were simply out of step with the needs of the local communities”.

Mr Shapps added: “I saw or heard from the public and parliamentary colleagues about far too many instances where temporary cycle lanes were unused due to their location and design, while their creation left motor traffic backed up alongside them; of wide pavements causing unnecessary congestion in town centres; and other issues that many have, rightly, reacted angrily to.”

The next round of funding would result in less money going to councils which have failed to “embrace good design” or to consult, he warned.

Department for Transport figures show there has been a surge in cycling during the pandemic.