POLITICIANS have backed measures to encourage greater take-up of cycling, including more 20mph-zones, cycle path investment and more on-street training for children.
A motion tabled in the Scottish Parliament by Alison Johnstone, Green MSP for the Lothians, won cross-party support yesterday, as MSPs talked up the environmental and health benefits of cycling.
It coincided with an announcement by City of Edinburgh Council that work will start this week on constructing a cycle route between the Mound in the city centre and Edinburgh University's King's Building campus.
The council has won praise from campaigners for setting aside 5% of its transport budget for cycling and recently introduced a 20mph zone in the south of the city centre.
One of the measures included in the Green motion was to work with councils to ensure that all children were offered on-street cycle training.
Ms Johnstone said: "Only 30% of Scottish children get on-road training at the moment so there's a clear need to do more if we want to grow a culture of safe cycling."
Ian Aitken, chief executive of Cycling Scotland, said: "We support calls to provide better infrastructure for cyclists and more speed restrictions."
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