CYCLING groups will today call for a national network of dedicated routes to be built on Scotland's roads in a bid to get more people on their bikes.
At a safety summit ordered by Transport Minister Keith Brown, campaigners will say European-style cycle paths that are physically segregated from normal traffic are the key to preventing fatal accidents and achieving Government targets of 10% of journeys being by bike by 2020.
To date, most cycle routes in Scotland have been built on pavements or designated on roads by the use of painted lanes. But there is growing enthusiasm among urban planners and cycling groups for segregated cycle paths commonly seen in mainland Europe, which make use of existing roads.
More than 30 delegates, including cycling charities and road safety officials, are due to attend today's meeting, which was arranged following the death of 40-year-old Bryan Simons, the fourth cyclist to be killed in Edinburgh this year.
Charity Sustrans Scotland said it would highlight work in Glasgow which has seen a two-way cycle path built on main roads in the west end of the city.
John Lauder, the charity's director, said: "Many people are put off using their bike for regular journeys as they feel our roads are unsafe. Scotland needs to employ a can-do attitude to main roads in our towns and cities if we are going to make cycling safer."
Support for segregated cycle paths was also given by Edinburgh-based cycling advocacy group Spokes.
Dave du Feu, spokesman for the group, said support for the idea was particularly high among women.
"Surveys of both occasional cyclists and non-cyclists overwhelmingly suggest that cycle facilities would encourage them to cycle more, and Edinburgh's experience over the last 10-20 years, with growing coloured/visible on-road facilities as well as growing off-road routes, has backed this up," he said. "Public demand and European experience all suggest the need to trial and experiment with European-style physically segregated on-road routes for such roads."
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