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UK Cycle Network 'unsafe for children' says transport charity UK Cycle Network: Nearly half of tracks 'unsafe for child of 12'
(35 minutes later)
Almost half of the UK's National Cycle Network is unsafe for children under the age of 12, according to research. Almost half of the UK's flagship cycling routes are unsafe for a child of 12 to use, a transport charity says.
Poor surfaces, traffic, and too many barriers are making routes inaccessible to young users, and some other groups. Sustans says bad surfaces, traffic, and too many barriers are making more than 7,500 miles of tracks inaccessible to young users, as well as other groups.
"There may as well be a 'no entry' sign on their local path," said Xavier Brice of transport charity Sustrans. "There may as well be a 'no entry' sign on their local path," the group's chief executive Xavier Brice said.
The charity is calling for an overhaul of the 16,575 miles of cycle routes "to make the network safer for everyone". The group is calling for an overhaul of the 16,575 miles of cycle routes "to make the network safer for everyone".
A route being safe for a 12-year-old is a safety benchmark set by the UK government.
The Paths for Everyone report, a major review and independent audit commissioned by Sustrans, classified 42% of the UK's Cycle Network as "very poor".
Thousands of miles of cycle routes are unsuitable for children, those with mobility issues and the less physically active, Sustrans concluded.
Two-thirds of the network is on the road - including nearly 2,000 miles of A and B roads.
The charity - which owns 500 miles of the network - has proposed:
Sustrans says improvements would cost £2.8 billion and would lead to the number of users rising from 4.4 million in 2017 to 8.4 million.
It says its long-term goal is to make the network traffic-free and "safe for a 12-year-old to use on their own".It says its long-term goal is to make the network traffic-free and "safe for a 12-year-old to use on their own".
All four national governments have backed the review, with the UK government dedicating £1 million to initial repair work. A route being safe for a 12-year-old is a safety benchmark set by the UK government.
Last year, the Scottish Government committed £7 million towards the development and maintenance of the paths in Scotland. But it according to Sustrans, two-thirds of the network is on the road - including nearly 2,000 miles of A and B roads.
Cycling and Walking Minister Jesse Norman said he hoped planned improvements would "encourage generations to make cycling and walking the natural choice for shorter journeys". The Paths for Everyone report, a review and independent audit of the network commissioned by Sustrans, classified 42% of the UK's Cycle Network as "very poor".
As well as being unsafe for children, it says thousands of miles of cycle routes are unsuitable for those with mobility issues and the less physically active.
The charity - which itself owns 500 miles of the network - says improvements could be made, including:
It says these improvements would cost £2.8bn and would lead to the number of users rising from 4.4 million in 2017 to 8.4 million.
Cycling and walking minister Jesse Norman said the cycle network was a great asset for cyclists and walkers but the report showed more needed to be done to make it fully accessible.
Earlier in the year, the government announced £1m to repair and upgrade sections of the routes.
The Scottish Government has committed £7m towards the development and maintenance of the paths in Scotland.