Rights of Way Improvement Plans & CTC Policy

There is currently a considerable suppressed demand for offroad cycling facilities. Rights of Way Improvement Plans (RoWIPs - an outcome of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act, 2000 - click here for more) should provide an excellent opportunity for addressing this shortfall. 

Key offroad cycling aims incorporated into the development of RoWIPS would have the potential to:

• improve offroad cycling provision;
• improve knowledge about the existence and quality of this provision;
• improve ease of access to this provision.

CTC has identified four particular aims to be considered by Local Authorities when developing their Rights of Way Improvement Plans (RoWIPs).  These aims are also relevant to the development of regional planning strategies by regional planning bodies.  They are as follows:

1. A complete survey of current offroad cycling facilities and promoted routes produced as part of each RoWIP.
2. A strategy to promote recreational cycling, showing where investments may be best made to serve the interests of cyclists, while at the same time improving provision for other users including walkers, equestrians and those with visual or mobility impairments.
3. Identification of gaps and shortcomings in current offroad cycling provision.
4. The publication and promotion of new offroad cycle routes.

The policy statement below is formulated in terms of these four aims.  There will be a good deal of overlap with the objectives of other agencies, and the CTC believes that there is considerable scope for working with tourism and health providers to help achieve an increase in recreational offroad cycling.

CTC and its Right to Ride Network are keen to cooperate with Local Authorities to develop RoWIPs, and will wish to be involved through consultation at all relevant stages.

CTC View

1.  The preparation of all RoWIPs should include a complete survey of current offroad cycling facilities and promoted routes in the areas covered.

The preparation of RoWIPs should include:

• A suitability survey of statutory Rights of Way and other highways to be found on definitive maps, highways maps, and those highways to be found on the List of Streets which are considered to be available for cyclists. These to include bridleways, byways, RUPPs / Restricted Byways, and unsurfaced roads;
• Identification of non statutory trails provided by the Forestry Commission, British Waterways, together with railtrails and any permissive paths on which cycling is permitted;
• Routes promoted on statutory Rights of Way and other highways, including those which are waymarked, and those identified in guidebooks, maps, leaflets and websites.

2.  Local highway authorities should adopt strategies to promote recreational cycling, which may be set out in their cycling strategies and/or a separate recreational travel strategy.  These should show where investments may be best made to serve the interests of cyclists in ways consistent with the wider aims of improving provision for other users including walkers, equestrians and those with visual or mobility impairments.  Such strategies should 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 and in the wider countryside for families and occasional cyclists;
• Robust circular routes close to towns and in the wider countryside for the more experienced mountain bike user;
• The Identification and promotion of circular and linear routes which can be accessed from railway stations.

3.  Local Authorities should identify of gaps and shortcomings in current offroad cycling provision, and prepare proposals, priorities and timescales to remedy these.  These proposals should:

• Address shortcomings in the definitive map, through historical research and subsequent Map Modification Orders;
• Ensure 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;
• Identify 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;
• Consider creation orders to upgrade appropriate footpaths to link bridleways and byways to form offroad networks for cyclists (and equestrians);
• Identify key routes, and prioritise them for maintenance. signposting and waymarking either by the highway authority itself or in cooperation with landowners or volunteers;
• Consider diversion orders where these will be of benefit to both the user and the landowner;
• Considering ways of satisfying objections to positive Map Modification Orders through informal consultations.

4.  Local Authorities should publish and promote new offroad cycle routes and facilities, and encourage other agencies and publishers to publicise offroad cycling opportunities, including:

• Provision for families, trail cyclists and mountainbikers;
• Routes which can be accessed by bicycle from centres of population;
• “Adventure cycling” areas for youngsters.