Scottish cycle group accuses SNP of underfunding

A report by an Edinburgh-based cycling group has condemned the Scots government for slashing its cycling budget.

Spokes says that the SNP has cut £5 million of funding over the past three years for Sustrans, the sustainable transport charity that promotes cycling, walking and other green transport.

According to the Scotsman newspaper, Spokes also accuses the SNP of taking £600,000 away from Cycling Scotland, which promotes the use of bikes north of the Border.

Labour Edinburgh North and Leith MP Mark Lazarowicz, a keen cyclist, said: "Hundreds of millions extra is being spent on infrastructure projects, particularly in areas which are politically important for the SNP.

"Yet a relatively small sum of money for cycling, which has benefits for the environment, health, tourism, cannot be found."

A Scottish Government spokesman said: "We are investing in cycling – over half of our Sustainable and Active Travel budget goes on cycling and in 2010-11, Sustrans will receive over £5m, an increase of 26 per cent.

"The first cycling action plan for Scotland will be published in April, which will take us towards getting 10 per cent of all journeys by bike by 2020 – an ambitious but wholly achievable target."