Nicola Sturgeon is promising to do more to encourage Scots to get on their bike if the SNP wins next month’s Holyrood elections.

Cycling has proved to be a hot topic in the past year due to the Covid pandemic, with many councils creating more cycle lanes, with more roads being pedestrianised in town and city centres to encourage people to walk and cycle.

Residents of Bicester and Witney will see a series of exciting new measures to improve cycling and walking routes in both towns set to be completed in May, said Oxfordshire county council.

In Witney, an enhanced cycling and walking connection between Tower Hill and Madley Park will be created, incorporating the town centre, shops, schools and businesses.

Following consultation feedback, Holloway Road will remain open and the proposed bus lane on Corn Street has been deferred to be considered within the Witney transport strategy review.

The county council also put up some road surface signs to raise awareness that roads were dual use for both vehicles and cycles.

Access to the upper end of Witney’s High Street remains restricted for all vehicles including bicycles while social distancing measures are in place.

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The work in Bicester incorporates the eastern end of Middleton Stoney Road. This scheme will boost cycling and walking from the expanding south and west of Bicester and provide connectivity into the town centre through Oxford Road/Kings End and Causeway, as well as an off-road route through Piggy Lane.

A decision on Causeway has been deferred until the detailed designs have been prepared and discussed with stakeholders.

Shared paths will be widened in both towns to three metres wherever possible to create a safer environment to cycle and walk.