The funding will enhance the Community Links programme run by Sustrans Scotland, which is open to bids from all local authorities across the country for infrastructure projects to promote cycling and walking.
It will provide a significant enhancement to the support the Scottish Government is already offering to local authorities to promote active travel and provides a real opportunity for them to plan ambitiously for the infrastructure improvements needed in their areas.
Local authorities are encouraged to look at developing flagship schemes that will make a difference to helping more people to walk and cycle for everyday local journeys.
In support of this, the Minister added that some of the new funding will be allocated to the City of Edinburgh Council's scheme to implement cycling improvements on Leith Walk. The Scottish Government will offer up to £3.6m to help realise the scheme's potential for promoting active travel along a key commuter corridor.
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The funding, which was announced as part of Mr Swinney's draft budget statement on 11 September, is in addition to the £58m already allocated to active travel in the 2011 spending review.
Transport Minister Keith Brown said: "This new additional funding demonstrates the Scottish Government's commitment to delivering infrastructure to make cycling a safe and realistic travel choice.
"We are offering local authorities the chance to promote active travel and encourage them to look at developing exemplar projects that will make a difference to helping more people to walk and cycle for everyday local journeys. We are also looking to local authorities to contribute too, given the considerable potential for local benefit from investing in their communities.
"The City of Edinburgh Council's ambitious plans for improving Leith Walk aims to deliver an exemplar commuter corridor. Subject to finalising designs, the Scottish Government is pleased to be able to offer support for this project which has significant potential for promoting much enhanced levels of walking and cycling by across the city."
John Lauder, National Director of Sustrans Scotland said: "Sustrans Scotland is pleased with the announcement of an additional £20m of new funding for cycling over the next two years. We want to see many more people in Scotland having the choice to travel by bike in the future.
"The role of local authorities in helping realise the vision of the CAPS is crucial given that people want their local shopping and residential streets to be welcoming places to get about by bike. I hope that this announcement will help local authorities to see the merit in dedicating more of their own funding to help people make short trips under their own steam rather than relying on their car."
(JP/CD)
