Sarah Boyack opened the conference

The minister addressed 500 delegates at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre - which included transport experts, town planners and tourism chiefs.

She said the executive's Learn to Let Go travel awareness campaign and its regeneration of Scotland's canals and towpaths for leisure use highlighted ministers' commitment to make it easier for people to get on their bikes.

Ms Boyack said: "With this conference, the eyes of the cycling world and beyond are firmly focused on Scotland this week.

"This is a great chance to showcase our cycling achievements and show the world what we have got to offer."

She went on: "Cycling is not just fun and a great way to keep fit but is also an affordable and environmentally friendly mode of transport that is widely available to people across Scotland."

Safe cycling

Ms Boyack said the executive was committed to developing transport and environment policies and told delegates that she believed cycling had a key role to play in such policies.

She also revealed Scottish ministers were determined to more than double the number of people who cycle north of the border.

"We are working to raise the profile of cycling, promoting safe cycling for young people and ensuring that the infrastructure, in terms of safer routes, is in place," she said.

"I firmly believe that there is a role for cycling in every area of Scotland, both rural and urban."

Ministers also believe cycling has huge potential for tourism in Scotland.

Ms Boyack said: "Cycling is a great way to see the country's magnificent scenery and the executive-supported National Cycle Network is making it easier to get around Scotland using off-road tracks and rural routes."

Cycling is a great way to see the country's magnificent scenery and the executive-supported National Cycle Network is making it easier to get around Scotland using off-road tracks and rural routes.

Sarah Boyack

The executive has set up a number of partnerships with local authorities and cycling interest groups in a bid to increase the number of Scots who cycle regularly.

Ministers have already made �8m available to local authorities to help them promote cycling projects.

A further �11.85m is to be made available between 2002 and 2004 from the Executive's Cycling, Walking and Safer Streets budget.

The executive had hoped to double the level of cycle use between 1996 and 2002 and double it again by 2012.

Research is being carried out to assess progress towards the 2002 target and strategies are currently being put in place to help meet the 2012 target, Ms Boyack added.

Scotland's 5,000 mile National Cycle Network is due to be completed in 2005. So far, the project has received �7m from the executive's Trunk Road Cycling Initiative.