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Cyclists in the North East and Yorkshire will get around safely and easily as the government invests an extra 拢32 million to tackle potholes and build new cycle lanes in the region.

Today (6 June 2025), the Minister for the Future of Roads will be in Saltburn-by-the-Sea, North Yorkshire, to speak to local schools, cycling clubs and female cycling champions during Stage 2 of the Lloyds Tour of Britain Women 鈥� the UK鈥檚 biggest women鈥檚 road cycling race.

The minister will show how the government is taking action to resurface roads and emphasise the need to make them safer and more accessible for all road users, including female cyclists. Her visit follows聽the 拢15.6 billion boost announced earlier this week聽to empower local leaders to invest in local transport projects that will make a real difference across England鈥檚 city regions 鈥� including South Yorkshire, the north east and Tees Valley.

Pothole-ridden roads聽put everyone off cycling, with this impact felt the most by women. According to research from Cycling UK, more than half of women (58%) said their cycle journeys were limited by safety concerns and a lack of suitable infrastructure, with 36% of women pointing to poor roads as a main factor.

The government is investing an extra 拢20 million to resurface roads across the north east and Yorkshire so that cyclists and all road users can get around more safely, more easily and with confidence.

On top of this uplift, local cyclists are also benefiting from an almost 拢13 million boost to build new cycle lanes and pavements in the north east.

Better roads and new cycle lanes will make it easier and safer for people to cycle. This will lead to 43,000 fewer sick days a year across the country and add 拢1.4 billion to the UK economy, putting money in the pockets of hardworking families to help deliver the government鈥檚 Plan for Change.

Future of Roads Minister, Lilian Greenwood, said:

Safer roads mean safer spaces to cycle. The Lloyds Tour of Britain Women is a fantastic way to show women and girls the power of cycling and the difference it can make to their lives.

By investing in better roads, we鈥檙e delivering our Plan for Change 鈥� encouraging more women and girls to hop on a bike, easing pressure on the NHS and building healthier, stronger communities.

Across the country, the government is investing a total of 拢1.6 billion to resurface roads 鈥� enough to fill 7 million extra potholes 鈥� which includes an extra 拢500 million boost to go above and beyond the government鈥檚 manifesto commitment.

Lizzie Deignan MBE, Olympic silver medallist and world champion, said:

I am incredibly passionate about getting more women and girls on bikes, whatever their background or ability. The benefits of cycling are vast, from improving your health, meeting new people and developing new skills and confidence.

Having better cycling infrastructure across the UK will definitely break down barriers, which currently prevent women and girls from participating in cycling.

Programmes like British Cycling鈥檚 Breeze and Go-Ride clubs are reaching out to local communities and creating opportunities to make it easier for women and girls to access cycling, so we can enable safe and fun environments to make sure that everyone can enjoy the freedom of riding a bike.

With more investment in our roads and cycle lanes, programmes like this can go further as we bring the joy of cycling to more people across the country.

The 拢13 million for new cycle lanes and pavements in the north east comes from a 拢291 million package to build new active travel infrastructure across the whole country and encourage more people to walk, wheel, scoot and cycle.

The improvements will help people across the country make 30 million more journeys by bike or foot every year, including more than聽20 million new walk-to-school journeys by children and their parents.

Caroline Julian, Director of Brand and Engagement at British Cycling, said:

Significant barriers still exist that prevent many people from accessing the health, economic and social benefits that cycling brings. We know from our research that road safety is the biggest reason that holds people back from getting on a bike. This is, unfortunately, particularly the case for women.

We are encouraged to see the significant government investment in road and cycle lane infrastructure in the north-east and Yorkshire regions. Investing in infrastructure and places to ride, alongside strengthened promotion and enforcement of the Highway Code, is of critical importance to make cycling accessible to all.

RAC Senior Policy Officer, Rod Dennis, said:

Whether on two wheels or four, the quality of the nation鈥檚 roads must be improved to make journeys smoother and safer. It鈥檚 crucial now that councils use this cash as effectively as possible.

While dangerous potholes must be filled quickly, councils need to do more surface dressing work to ensure decent roads stay in a better state for longer and resurface those that are beyond repair.

IAM RoadSmart Director of Policy and Standards, Nicholas Lyes, said:

Poorly maintained roads are not just a nuisance, they are a road safety hazard, particularly for those on two wheels. We welcome this additional funding that focuses not just on smoother surfaces but safer infrastructure, which will improve journey choice for people.