CYCLING in Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire is to receive extra funding of more than £500,000 this year as part of an effort to reduce fuel emissions.

Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) is set to pump £330,000 into improvements to East Renfrewshire’s pedestrian and cycle routes, as well as £175,000 into the Paisley to Renfrew cycle path.

A further £300,000 has been earmaked for improvements to the Renfrewshire bus corridor.

SPT, which is responsible for planning and co-ordinating regional transport, is aiming to deliver a more sustainable transport network and is focusing on new cycling infrastructure to encourage ‘greener’ travel.

The investment comes as part of SPT’s Capital Budget, which will deliver more than £73million worth of infrastructure projects across Scotland this year.

SPT chair Martin Bartos said: “SPT plays an important role, investing in good quality transport infrastructure for the benefit of all.

“We plan, deliver and maintain bus infrastructure, as well as supporting local authorities and other partners to deliver road safety projects, traffic management measures, pedestrian and cycling infrastructure, improved access to public transport hubs and new rail stations.

“In the next financial year, we are investing more than £73million in projects that meet the objectives of the Regional Transport Strategy to improve safety, connectivity, accessibility and integration and reduce harmful emissions from transport.”

Renfrewshire traffic management improvements will benefit from a £300,000 windfall, while bus infrastructure enhancements in East Renfrewshire will receive £180,000.

Over the following two years, East Renfrewshire is set to bank more than £500,000 from SPT, while Renfrewshire is to be handed more than £1m, including £100,000 towards the Bishopton to Glasgow Airport cycle network.

Other projects benefitting from the funding this year include bus stop and environmental improvements in Glasgow city centre, which will receive a boost of £850,000.