A GROUP which promotes cycling in Ryedale is backing calls for safer routes.

Ryedale Cycle Forum (RCF) said it had been very concerned to read in the Gazette & Herald about the serious injuries sustained by cyclist Dave Holberry at the Old Malton roundabout last month.

Dave's wife Mandy launched a petition to improve road safety after he was left in a coma following the accident.

Helen Grundy, from RCF, said they been working for many months to get safer routes for cyclists.

"One of the hurdles is that new developments such as the new cattle market/industrial development just north of the Old Malton Roundabout, do not automatically include new cycle tracks to get there," she said.

"If every new development could include cycle routes, then our cycle path network would improve. The cost would be small change for the big developers."

Helen said the RCF had asked that some of the Section 106 funds or Community Infrastructure Levy from new developments could also be directed to create cycle routes in the other parts of Malton and Norton.

Mandy said she and Dave had been encouraged by the support they have received.

"We are continuing to gather signatures and it is great that RCF is supporting our efforts," she said. "A lot of people have commented on how they have had near misses with road traffic and are now too frightened to cycle anywhere."

Ryedale MP Mr Hollinrake said: “This was a terrible incident and I applaud the efforts of Mr and Mrs Holberry to make roads safer for cyclists right across the county. Spending per head on cycling in England has trebled since 2010, and is now £6 per head across England, compared to £2 per person in 2010.

"There is long-term funding available to local authorities and Local Enterprise Partnerships that could be used on cycling through the Local Growth Fund with around £280 million of this currently being spent on cycling. I would be very happy to convene a meeting between campaigners, the LEP and NYCC to help take this forward.”

Anyone who would like to sign Mandy's petition can do so at change.org/p/north-yorkshire-county-council-cycle-lanes-in-and-around-malton-norton-and-pickering

Copies are also available from Mandy, who works at Asda, along with Yorkshire Bakers, Derwent swimming pool and Bits and Bobs in Norton, as well as Yates cycle shop, Kappa Cars, Northern Ride and the Gazette & Herald office in Malton.