Birmingham may get a further cash boost running into millions of pounds to boost cycling initiatives.
It is set to receive a hefty share of a new £214 million funding package to make cycling safer and more popular.
The package was announced by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg following the success of this year’s Tour de France stages in Britain.
Any money received will be on top of the £17 million previously pledged by the Government.
Coun Lisa Trickett, Cabinet Member for a Green, Smart and Sustainable City, welcomed the news and said: “We are pleased central government is backing up its words with much needed financial support for cycling.
“This money will enable them to develop their national Cycling Delivery Plan and for us to continue delivering the Birmingham Cycle Revolution.
“Locally, we have a 20-year plan to make cycling a mainstream mode of transport, but it will need support such as this from central government if we are to transform our vision into reality.”
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Mr Clegg said in his announcement that he hoped to bring European cycling culture to British streets.
“The inspiration and legacy of the 2012 Olympics and the Tour de France starting in Yorkshire this year has started a revolution in cycling for everyone, not just in velodromes, not necessarily in lycra, but for going to school or to work or to the shops,” he said.
“I’m committed to helping our dream of becoming a cycling nation, similar to places like Denmark and the Netherlands, become a reality.
“The rewards could be massive — billions of pounds in savings for the NHS, less pollution and congestion, and a happier and safer population.
“In Government, we’re putting the money down, now we need the public and local authorities to jump on their bikes and get us to the finish.”
Of the £214 million, £114 million over the next three years will be available for eight Cycling Ambition Cities, including Birmingham, who will have to submit bids.
Funds will be used to accelerate the development of local cycling networks, increase protection and safety at dangerous junctions and help prevent accidents.
The remaining £100 million will be used over the next three years to improve conditions on busy roads for cyclists and walkers.
A historic stretch of Birmingham’s canal was drained earlier this week to improve pedestrian city centre access.
Cycle revolution funding will be used initially to improve the cycling network within a 20-minute biking time from Birmingham city centre, providing 95km of improvements to existing cycle routes and 115km of new routes.
Alongside the Government new measures, retail chain Halfords will recondition and donate bikes and helmets to primary school children in disadvantaged areas in the eight cycling cities.
