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| UK Cycle Network: Nearly half of tracks 'unsafe for child of 12' | UK Cycle Network: Nearly half of tracks 'unsafe for child of 12' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Almost half of the UK's flagship cycling routes are unsafe for a child of 12 to use, a transport charity says. | Almost half of the UK's flagship cycling routes are unsafe for a child of 12 to use, a transport charity says. |
| Sustrans says poor surfaces, traffic, and too many barriers are making more than 7,500 miles of tracks inaccessible to young users, and other groups. | |
| "There may as well be a 'no entry' sign on their local path," the group's chief executive Xavier Brice said. | "There may as well be a 'no entry' sign on their local path," the group's chief executive Xavier Brice said. |
| The group 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". |
| 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". |
| A route being safe for a 12-year-old is a safety benchmark set by the UK government. | A route being safe for a 12-year-old is a safety benchmark set by the UK government. |
| But according to Sustrans, two-thirds of the network is on the road - including nearly 2,000 miles of A and B roads. | |
| 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". | 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. | 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: | 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. | 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. |
| The review has highlighted 50 so-called "activation projects" which Sustrans aims to see completed by 2023, at a cost of £60 million. These include: | |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | The Scottish Government has committed £7m towards the development and maintenance of the paths in Scotland. |