The Paths for Everyone report, published on Monday (November 12th) illustrates what needs to be done to save the 16,575-mile network that is used by millions of people every year, to make it safer and accessible to all.
Sustrans chief executive officer Xavier Brice presented the report to Parliament, commenting: “We want to build on its success and make the Network safer and more accessible for everyone, not just for people who currently use it. Our “Paths for Everyone” report lays out an ambitious vision to make the Network traffic-free and safe for a 12-year-old to use on their own.
“However, historic problems such as poor surfaces, incomplete signage or barriers mean that for people with mobility issues or those of us who are less physically active, there may as well be a ‘no entry’ sign on their local path.”
Based on four main service measures, surface, flow, signage and traffic safety, Sustrans aimed to generate a series of condition reports to aid user experience of the network. Whilst the charity found that 8,979 miles of the route falls into the ‘good’ or ‘very good’ category, 7,596 miles of the Network falls into the ‘poor’ or ‘very poor’ categories.
... historic problems such as poor surfaces, incomplete signage or barriers mean that for people with mobility issues or those of us who are less physically active, there may as well be a ‘no entry’ sign on their local path”
Of the traffic-free routes surveyed, 20 percent of the issues were found to be related to wayfinding and signage, with 15,680 incorrect, missing, obstructed, confusing and damaged signs. The number falls for on-road sections, but signage still accounts for 15 percent of issues on those routes.
As a custodian of the Network, Sustrans has set out 15 recommendations following the review to improve it for all users, recommending that signage should be improved so that people can use the paths without a map or smartphone.
Sustrans chief executive officer Xavier Brice concludes: “The genesis of the National Cycle Network can be traced back to Sustrans’ own in 1977 and the volunteers who turned a disused railway line into the 13-mile Bristol and Bath path. Whilst the Network has expanded, its quality varies, resulting in an inconsistent experience for those who use it. We need to make it better.”
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