A funding boost means a total of £42m will be injected into more than 100km of cycle routes across Greater Manchester.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg today announced that £22m would be invested in Greater Manchester’s ‘Cycle City’ scheme.

TfGM announced earlier in the year that a grant application for the Cycle City programme had been successful - but the government confirmed today the award of £22m.

It will be added to the £20m already in the Cycle City programme pot, dubbed ‘Phase One’.

Phase One earmarks the £20m for seven major cycle paths totalling 60km - including a scheme in Rusholme, with new images released today showing how the Curry Mile will be transformed by ‘Dutch-style’ lanes if it gets the go-ahead after public consultation.

Plans feature segregated cycle lanes running behind parking bays to keep cyclists separate from other traffic on Wilmslow Road - which is used by more than 2,000 cyclists a day.

Other Phase One projects are around Manchester Airport, Prestwich, Cheetham Hill, Salford, Stockport and the Bridgewater and Ashton canals.

These have come under fire from cycling campaigners who say they are not up to scratch in terms of safety and standards.

But transport bosses insist they will revolutionise cycling in the city.

The latest windfall, to be spent over the next three years, is set to fund ‘Phase Two’ - cycle paths in Chorlton, Stretford, Clippers Quay Bridge, Bridgewater, Rochdale and Bolton.

It’s also earmarked for ‘Cycle Friendly District Centres’ in Cheadle Hulme, Radcliffe, Oldham and Wigan, as well as better bike facilities at transport hubs.

Schools and colleges across Greater Manchester will also benefit from new programmes and improvements.

(Image: Vincent Cole)

Councillor Andrew Fender, chairman of the TfGM Committee, said: “This is great news that will allow us to build upon the fantastic work already under way to make cycling a mainstream option for everyone, regardless of age or ability.

“We have set ourselves an ambitious target – 10 per cent of all journeys to be made by bicycle by 2025 – and the next phase of our Cycle City programme will play a crucial part in achieving it.

“The funding announced today will allow us to build on our established ‘Better By Cycle’ programme of training, information and improvements to cycle facilities.

“The revolution has begun, and we’re building fantastic momentum towards our goal.”

You can give your views on the Rusholme scheme at www.manchester.gov.uk/consultations

Cycle City Phase Two

Chorlton Cycleway

On one of the busiest corridors in Greater Manchester, with more than 1,000 cyclists a day currently using the route, the Chorlton cycleway will look to replicate the type of infrastructure outlined for the Wilmslow Road Cycleway.

A largely segregated cycle route is planned, connecting the city centre to the residential areas to the south west, where there are links to the TransPennine Trail.

Stretford Cycleway

This route will link residential areas to the south west of the city to the regional centre and the universities.

The route is currently used by around 600 cyclists a day.

Improvements to the route will build on investments recently made through the Cycle Safety Fund and will provide a high quality cycle route, largely separated from general traffic.

The Stretford cycleway will link directly to the Chorlton cycleway and the Wilmslow Road cycleway.

Clippers Quay Bridge

Bridging the gap caused by the Manchester Ship Canal, the proposed Clippers Quay Bridge in Salford would enable a traffic-free crossing.

The new bridge would provide significantly improved, and direct, cycle access to the strategically important employment areas of Trafford Park, MediaCityUK and the regional centre, providing a key link between the National Cycle Network route 55 and 556.

Huddersfield and Peak Forest Canal Cycleways

This scheme builds on Ashton Canal Cycleway and earlier work on the Peak Forest Canal funded through LSTF to deliver new traffic-free routes along towpaths linking the residential and employment areas of Stalybridge, Hyde and Ashton town centre.

The scheme will also provide an important seamless connection to the regional centre using the Ashton Canal Cycleway over a total distance of 15km.

This will be complemented by further local links to improve access to the Ashton Canal Cycleway to extend its catchment area.

Bridgewater Cycleway

This scheme would extend the Bridgewater Cycleway, opened as part of the first phase of our Cycle City programme.

This will complete the strategically important link from the regional centre to Trans Pennine Trail and the National Cycle Network routes 82 and 62.

The scheme will also provide cycle access to key employment and residential areas.

Rochdale Cyclelinks

A network of local cycle routes, to address the gap caused by the M62 through cycle enhancements, with the Highway Agency, at Junction 19.

The new cycle routes will provide strategically important links between the local communities and employment opportunities in Middleton and Heywood, as well as providing traffic free access to Hopwood Hall College.

Bolton Cyclelinks

To improve cycle access in Bolton a network of high quality, and largely off-highway, cycleways will be delivered that connect local communities with key trip attractors, including the Royal Bolton Hospital, a major local employer.

The package will include a new canal towpath link between Farnworth and Radcliffe, providing a fully traffic free route between these two town centres.

This package of works will be supported by the investment through the Local Growth Fund minor works and major scheme.