asked the Minister for the Environment the steps he has taken to encourage local authorities to provide improved facilities for cyclists and the progress which has been made in this regard.
Written Answers. - Facilities for Cyclists.
45.
From a road safety standpoint, it is considered that hard shoulders on roads provide a very suitable facility for use by cyclists. At technical level, my Department has advised road authorities to promote the use of hard shoulders by cyclists. In addition, the memorandum on road grants for 1985, which was issued by the Department to all road authorities in January 1985 contained a special reminder to the authorities of the need to ensure that the surface of hard shoulders is adequately maintained so as to secure the safety and convenience of cyclists.
In accordance with paragraph 3.3 of the new road plan, the desirability of incorporating special facilities for cyclists into road projects in urban areas is also borne in mind. It is open to road authorities to utilise moneys from their road block grant allocations for the provision of improved facilities for cyclists on public roads. Detailed information is not available in the Department as to the specific progress made by each local authority as a result of these measures.