Belfast Bicycle Network

Oral Answers to Questions — Regional Development – in the Northern Ireland Assembly at 3:00 pm on 1 February 2016.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Chris Lyttle Chris Lyttle Alliance 3:00, 1 February 2016

4. Mr Lyttle asked the Minister for Regional Development for an update on the Belfast bicycle network. (AQO 9511/11-16)

Photo of Michelle McIlveen Michelle McIlveen DUP

The Member will be aware of my recent announcement about three bicycle routes in Belfast that are under construction. Work started on these last week, and Members who have been in the city centre may have seen the activity in Alfred Street. I expect these to be completed by Easter. These routes will link existing cycle tracks from the west and south of the city to the city centre and will provide greater protection for people who choose to make journeys in the city by bicycle. The schemes will also support the successful Belfast bike share scheme and help more people gain the confidence to use the bicycle as an enjoyable sustainable mode of transport. For example, the Alfred Street scheme will link the two docking stations at the Gasworks with the docking station behind Clarence Court in Alfred Street and the docking station in Arthur Street.

These schemes are three of the five schemes consulted on last summer. Designs for the other two schemes, which will link the east of the city to the city centre, are still being considered, taking account of comments from the information days held as part of the consultation process. Those schemes will complete a 2·5-kilometre route from the Westlink shared foot and cycle way through the city centre to Titanic Quarter station and on to the Ballymacarrett Walkway, the Connswater Community Greenway and the Comber greenway.

Photo of Chris Lyttle Chris Lyttle Alliance

I warmly welcome the investment that the Minister has outlined. Adequate investment is essential to delivering safe cycle routes in Northern Ireland. The DRD cycle strategy aims for £10 to be spent per person, and the DRD/Sustrans Bike Life report shows that Belfast residents support a £25 per person spend on cycling. Given that the spend in 2014-15 was £4 per person and in 2015-16 is £3 per person, does the Minister think that that is an adequate level of investment? What will her allocation be for cycling in the 2016-17 budget?

Photo of Michelle McIlveen Michelle McIlveen DUP

I thank the Member for his question. Obviously, I have been quite active, in the short period that I have been Minister, in relation to cycling, and I hope to continue that in the coming weeks. This year, it is anticipated that the Department will spend £2·4 million on cycling. This includes expenditure on the Active School Travel programme. In 2014-15, a total of £7·5 million was spent on cycling. That included quite a significant amount of capital for active travel demonstration projects. Other Departments also contribute to the spend on cycling. It is very difficult, then, to calculate exactly how much there is from the Executive overall.

I am aware of Sustrans's manifesto and plans. You will be aware that my Department is undertaking to develop a bicycle network plan for Belfast that will guide the development of infrastructure around the city for the next 10 years. I also have plans for a greenway strategy, and I am hopeful that any incoming Minister will see the benefits of both those plans when allocating funding.

Photo of Sammy Douglas Sammy Douglas DUP

I welcome the Minister's answers today. Since the 2014 Giro d'Italia, there has been a big increase in cycling. Will the Minister outline what steps her Department is taking to promote and foster cycling in east Belfast?

Photo of Michelle McIlveen Michelle McIlveen DUP

All politics is, obviously, local. The Giro d'Italia was a wonderful showcase event that focused on a remarkable interest in cycling, not just in east Belfast but across Northern Ireland. Cycling is, of course, an important, healthy and sustainable way of travelling for everyday purposes. As I have said, to support and promote the growth of cycling, we are taking forward elements of the 2015 bicycle strategy, which includes a number of flagship schemes in Belfast city centre, the development of the Belfast bicycle network plan and the strategic plan for greenways. Those are all very relevant to east Belfast where we have seen the development of a number of excellent greenways, which I am keen to improve and extend, where possible. I am particularly keen that the Comber greenway joins the Connswater Community Greenway as a first-class facility.

Photo of Sean Lynch Sean Lynch Sinn Féin

Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. Can the Minister give an update on the usage rates of bicycles in the Belfast scheme?

Photo of Michelle McIlveen Michelle McIlveen DUP

I thank the Member for his question. I am delighted to say that there have been 150,000 journeys to date through the bike share programme, and that is in just nine months. I am also really pleased that the Belfast Trust and Belfast City Council are working to further expand Belfast bikes across three Belfast hospital sites. I understand that a decision on those schemes is due to be taken at the council today, and they are expected to be in place by Easter 2016. It should include a link from the Royal Victoria Hospital site into Belfast city centre, and that will give people more confidence to be able to make journeys by bicycle. I think that the announcement is very timely given the ongoing works that my Department is undertaking in order to provide a safer space for bicycles in the city centre.