Only one in six MPs signed up to support cycling before the election

Just one in six MPs signed up to strongly support cycling in a disappointing response to the CTC's Vote Bike campaign.

Just 114 of 650 newly-elected MPs, including the Prime Minister, signed up to one or more of the campaign's five asks, whose categories were ambition, funding, design standards, safety and positive promotion.

Of 3,286 candidates contacted by the organisation 1,058 responded, the low rate apparently due to database issues - some candidates' Parliament email addresses were used, which weren't always checked while Parliament was dissolved before elections, Road.cc understands.

Roger Geffen, CTC Campaigns Director said: "Following the announcement of a Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy at the end of the last parliament, the future of cycling is looking much more positive. It's now down to our new MPs and Prime Minister to deliver on the spending and other Vote Bike commitments they made to their constituents. This is vital if we are to at last start to Get Britain Cycling."

David Cameron signed up to Vote Bike on 29 April, days before the general election, though he didn't commit on the safety category, which involves strengthening road traffic law and its enforcement and revising the Highway Code.

While Cameron replied "it depends" on the ambition category, to increase cycling to 10% of trips by 2025 and 25% by 2050 he later went on to mention it in a letter to Journalist and CTC President, Jon Snow.

"Our aim is to double cycling by 2025, not least because it means better health, less pollution, and less congestion - we want it to be the natural choice for shorter journeys," the letter said.

Making an unlikely Game of Thrones reference, Cameron also added by hand at the bottom of the letter: "When it comes to cycling, 'you know everything, Jon Snow'".

In total 4,683 people sent 26,928 emails to candidates. The highest response rate was from the Green party, with 65% of emails receiving replies; followed by the Lib Dems at 44%. Only 14% of emails to Conservative candidates received replies, compared to 29% of Labour and 11% of UKIP. Many Conservatives only supported some of the five areas, only 24 out of 86 Tory MPs that responded supporting all five.

The CTC has optimistically said the new government "appears to come with a cycling pedigree" with the re-appointment of cycling minister, Robert Goodwill, and "active supporters" Claire Perry and Andrew Jones. Eric Pickles was replaced by pro-cycling Greg Clark, who has been active with his local Tunbridge Wells Bicycle User Group.

The All Party Parliamentary Cycling Group is asking people to contact their MPs to join the group, which campaigns for cycling in Westminster and outside of it.