A £3MILLION funding boost has been revealed to encourage more people to get on their bikes as part of a link up between Highways England and Sustrans, the walking and cycling charity.
To help cyclists and walkers navigate its road network the company is working with Sustrans to help provide safer crossings and connect cycle schemes on England’s busiest roads with the charity’s 16,505-mile National Cycle Network.
The network criss-crosses the country, linking villages, towns and cities, and with 4.4million people using it every year for commuting and leisure, the partnership will benefit cyclists up and down the country.
Both Evesham and Pershore have cycle routes that are part of the national scheme.
Highways England Head of Road Safety Richard Leonard said: “Our vision is to create better and improved cycling facilities that are safe and separate from traffic, which encourage cycling as a sustainable form of transport and make every day journeys as easy as possible.”
This pilot project with Sustrans will help the company deliver a total of 200 cycling schemes by 2021. Sustrans have identified a long list of opportunities and will be working together with Highways England to create a shortlist of schemes which can be quickly taken forward.
Anita Konrad, Sustrans’ National Director, England, said: “Cycling and walking for local journeys is part of the solution to many of the challenges we face today, including road congestion, air pollution and high levels of inactivity.”
