OUTSIDE London, Bournemouth has the greatest potential for increasing bike use and easing traffic congestion, a new study has shown.

The findings of a study by consultants Steer Davies Gleave were revealed after council transport manager Ian Kalra told the Daily Echo how a multi-million pound grant for cycling and green transport will be spent.

Part of the £4.6million grant from the Government’s Local Sustainable Transport Fund will pay for dedicated cycle lanes on Castle Lane to link the road’s major employers, schools and shops like Castlepoint.

The lanes will be colour coded and similar to those on Christchurch Road in Boscombe.

The welcome cash injection will also partly fund another cycle route between Bear Cross and Poole Lane on Ringwood Road. Around half of the grant will go on measures such as cycle training for children and adults.

Studies show 48 per cent of commuter journeys in Bournemouth of less than two kilometres are made by car.

Mr Kalra said: “It’s nationally accepted that we can’t build ourselves out of congestion – we are not going to be building any major new roads. We must move forward with sustainable transport.”

This is the second major cash windfall this year after Bournemouth secured £3.45m from the Government’s Better Bus Fund in March.

And council chiefs expect to hear in June whether the borough, along with the Borough of Poole and Dorset councils, has won another £15.1m to improve the A35 corridor – the major east to west route through the conurbation.

Mr Kalra said: “I wouldn’t say I am confident, but I am certainly optimistic.”

The council’s long-term plan is to reduce car journeys by eight per cent by 2026.

Improvements are also expected to complement the new cycle track, leisure routes and Sky Rides to ensure that Bournemouth attracts cycling tourists.