IMBA UK should plan to work with CTC to progress three key aims relating to Rights of Way Improvement Plans.
1. A complete survey of cycling facilities produced as part of each RoWIP, leading to a publication and promotion of routes through maps and leaflets.
2. Production of countryside cycling strategy, showing where investments may be best made to serve the interests of cyclists and other users including walkers, equestrians and those with visual or mobility impairments.
These to include:
- High quality linear traffic free or calmed routes into the countryside from urban conurbations.
- High quality circular or linear traffic free routes close to towns for families and occasional cyclists
- Robust circular routes close to towns for the more experienced mountain bike user.
3. Identification of gaps and shortcomings and proposals and timescales to remedy these by:
- Addressing shortcomings in the definitive map, through historical research and subsequent Map Modification Orders.
- Ensuring that Local Authority Highway Departments forward information on all unsurfaced unclassified county roads to Ordnance Survey for inclusion as “other routes with public access” on 1:25.000 and 1:50.000 maps.
- Identifying potential links which can be created or provided by permission to join fragmented bridleways, byways and UUCR’s. These could include linear links alongside railways, streams or canals.
- Considering creation orders to upgrade appropriate footpaths to link bridleways and byways to form offroad networks for cyclists (and equestrians).
- Identifying key routes, and prioritising them for maintenance. signposting and waymarking through the Local Authorities or in cooperation with landowner or volunteers.
- Considering diversion orders where these will be of benefit to the users and no disbenefit to the landowner.
- Considering ways of satisfying objections to positive Map Modification Orders through informal consultations.
Colin Palmer
Updated June 2003
