Transport Minister Simon Bridges says applications have been flooding in for the $90 million remaining in the Government’s Urban Cycleways Programme.

Mr Bridges says since the first tranche of projects were announced on 30 January, 59 new applications have been received from almost all of the main urban centres across the country.

“This strong response shows that cycling is becoming a clear priority for urban councils. The Government’s Urban Cycleways Programme has successfully incentivised local councils to accelerate their own urban cycleways plans,” Mr Bridges says.

$9.9 million has already been allocated to progress the first set of projects in Auckland, Hamilton, Palmerston North, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin. The remaining $90.1 million will be invested between 2015 and 2018.

The NZ Transport Agency is currently prioritising the applications, which will be reviewed by the Urban Cycleways Investment Panel. Urban Cycleways Programme projects are decided by the Minister of Transport, on the recommendation of the Urban Cycleways Investment Panel.

I don’t know about readers out there but the one thing remarkable about the cycleways I see in my town is that there are no cyclists to be seen using them.