6 Oct 2014

Govt under-funding cycling say Greens

11:21 am on 6 October 2014

The Green Party says the Government is spending less than half what is needed to improve urban cycling.

During the election campaign, the Prime Minister announced $100 million would be spent over the next four years to accelerate the development of cycleways in urban centres.

Papers obtained by the Greens under the Official Information Act show the Transport Ministry originally discussed spending $260 million on urban cycling.

The party's transport spokesperson, Julie Anne Genter, says $260 million is a tiny fraction of the transport budget but would bring enormous transport, health and environmental benefits.

Ms Genter said there had been decades of under-investment in cycling.