A CYCLING expert who has recommended that Oxford is given £150m to improve infrastructure will be in the city next week.

Andrew Gilligan, a former cycling commissioner in London, gave the recommendations to the Government in a key report in July.

Mr Gilligan will talk about his report, Running out of Road, on Tuesday at Oxford Town Hall. That was commissioned by the National Infrastructure Commission to look at cycling in Oxford, Cambridge and Milton Keynes.

The report said the money must be spent to stop Oxford 'seizing up' and should be spent on five high-quality protected cycle routes.

The segregated routes include Botley Road, Banbury Road, the Eastern Arc, Iffley Road and East Oxford and the Marston cyclepath.

So poor is the quality of infrastructure across Oxford, Mr Gilligan said the majority of a £200m pot should be spent here in the city. He said the rest should be split between Milton Keynes and Cambridge.

His report said of Oxford: "New road building is impossible, light rail is expensive and slow to deliver and there isn't even room in the centre for more buses.

"But one simple answer is staring Oxford in the face: the bicycle.

"Getting more people to cycle is the quickest, cheapest and least disruptive way to relieve pressure on the roads."

About 150 people are expected at the event. Tickets are free and people are encouraged to sign up for them online.

It is being organised by Low Carbon Oxford, Cyclox, Oxford University and Oxford Civic Society.