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<p>The Conservative Manifesto 2015 had a commitment to reduce the number of cyclists
and other road users killed or injured on our roads every year. We have been working
closely with road safety groups to consider what more can be done and expect to publish
our Road Safety Statement shortly.</p><br /><p>The Road Safety Statement will set
out the high level plan and overarching approach to road safety that we expect to
take over the rest of the Parliament, and will be followed by a series of more detailed
proposals and consultations. The Department for Transport will publish a Cycling and
Walking Investment Strategy in 2016 which will set out our plans for investment in
safer cycling and walking infrastructure.</p><br /><p>Busy roads in rural areas will
either be the responsibility of Highways England or local authorities.</p><br /><p>Highways
England have committed to provide a safer, integrated and more accessible strategic
road network for cyclists and other vulnerable road users. To support this, the Government
has outlined a commitment to invest £100m between 2015/16 and 2020/21 to improve provision
for cyclists on the strategic road network.</p><br /><p>On a local level, provision
of cycling infrastructure is for local traffic authorities. The Department encourages
them to ensure cycling is considered as part of the planning process.The Department
for Transport’s Cycle Infrastructure Design guidance supports local authorities on
providing cycle-safe infrastructure for cyclists.</p><br /><p>It is also worth noting
that from within the record £6 billion to be allocated to local highways authorities
between 2015 and 2021 for road maintenance, from 2018/19 the plan is to change the
formula used to allocate local highways maintenance capital funding so that it also
takes into account footways and cycleways as well as the roads, bridges and street
lighting, which it is currently based on. Once implemented, around 9% of the funding
will be based on footway and cycleway lengths.</p>
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