25 Year Bicycle Strategy For NI Published

A 25 year Bicycle Strategy for Northern Ireland has been published.

The strategy has been developed to help transform NI into a cycling society.

Transport Minister Danny Kennedy said: "Over 100 consultation responses were received from organisations and individuals and I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their valuable comments. All responses were carefully considered and some of the feedback directly contributed to changes to the final publication."

The DRD is also currently developing a draft Belfast Bicycle Network Plan and a Bicycle Strategy Delivery Plan both of which are due to be published in the autumn.

The Minister continued: "My vision in that Northern Ireland will be a community where people have the freedom and confidence to travel by bicycle for every day journeys.

"To achieve the vision for cycling we need to build a comprehensive network for the bicycle, support people who choose to travel by bicycle and promote the bicycle as a mode of transport for every day journeys.

"I want to be creative and innovative in encouraging people to use the bicycle. I consider it very important that my strategy sets out the bigger picture, outlining all the elements that need to be addressed to make Northern Ireland a cycling community that is comparable with our other European neighbours."

(CD)