Highways to Hell
Cycling Plus UK|October 2023
Laura tries to get to the bottom of where National Highways' cycling budget has been going
Laura Laker
Highways to Hell

If I told you who Britain's self-professed 'biggest cycleway builder' is, you might be surprised to learn it's also our biggest road building body, National Highways (NH). The trouble seems to be establishing what they've built for cycling, or if anyone is using it.

While England's cycle budget dropped off a cliff this year, one body going full steam ahead was the one building us ever more and bigger A-roads and motorways. As part of the fund to try to mitigate the impact of those roads, National Highways had £84m to spend on cycling between 2015 and 2020. Where does the money go, you might ask, and why do trunk roads need cycle routes? Because they are such large, dangerous structures for walking and cycling, a network of dedicated bridges, tunnels and separated cycle routes in and around them are crucial so people can get around without a motor vehicle.

In 2016, NH set new design standards for its cycling and walking provision, which pointed to a brighter future. Campaigners hoped this would raise standards around the country. Sadly, eight years later, there are strong indications NH hasn't been following its own guidance. It can't seem to say if it even planned to follow those standards for the past seven years.

Esta historia es de la edición October 2023 de Cycling Plus UK.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

Esta historia es de la edición October 2023 de Cycling Plus UK.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

MÁS HISTORIAS DE CYCLING PLUS UKVer todo
Air Apparent - Pollution hasn't gone away. It's still there in every lungful, even if we can't see it in the air or on the news. But there are reasons to breathe easier, thanks to pioneering projects using cycling 'citizen scientists'. Rob Ainsley took part in one...
Cycling Plus UK

Air Apparent - Pollution hasn't gone away. It's still there in every lungful, even if we can't see it in the air or on the news. But there are reasons to breathe easier, thanks to pioneering projects using cycling 'citizen scientists'. Rob Ainsley took part in one...

The toxic effects of pollution have been known about for years. 'Just two things of which you must beware: Don't drink the water and don't breathe the air!' sang 1960s satirist Tom Lehrer.Over recent decades, though, pollution has dropped down our list of things to worry about, thanks to ominously capitalised concerns such as Climate Change, AI, Global Conflict, Species Collapse, etc. That doesn't, unfortunately, mean the problem has expired. Air quality often exceeds safe limits, with far-reaching and crippling effects on our health.

time-read
8 minutos  |
October 2024
No limits
Cycling Plus UK

No limits

Not every adventure needs to be that epic, says bikepacking Scotland founder Markus Stitz

time-read
3 minutos  |
October 2024
UNBOUND UNLEASHED
Cycling Plus UK

UNBOUND UNLEASHED

Josh Patterson was one of 34 starters for the inaugural edition of Unbound in 2006. Now, with more than 5,000 riders taking part in today's event, he charts the rise of the most important race in gravel

time-read
8 minutos  |
October 2024
FOREST COMMISSION
Cycling Plus UK

FOREST COMMISSION

Looking for a goal race in 2025 that'll stimulate the synapses and live long in the memory? You'd struggle to do better than ENID CRV in Finland

time-read
6 minutos  |
October 2024
15 OF THE BEST ADVENTURES
Cycling Plus UK

15 OF THE BEST ADVENTURES

Featuring Yorkshire, the USA, Sri Lanka and more, here are our picks of the world's greatest gravel races and routes

time-read
4 minutos  |
October 2024
The stuff of dreams
Cycling Plus UK

The stuff of dreams

Ned sings the praises of the Paris Olympics road-race course

time-read
3 minutos  |
October 2024
"I rode 3,000 miles around Britain on a bamboo bike to highlight our climate crisis"
Cycling Plus UK

"I rode 3,000 miles around Britain on a bamboo bike to highlight our climate crisis"

Recordbreaking cyclist and triathlete Kate Strong, 45, took to the road to raise awareness of environmental issues

time-read
2 minutos  |
October 2024
FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE
Cycling Plus UK

FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE

We venture into the hidden gem of the glorious Creuse, one of France's least populated regions

time-read
7 minutos  |
October 2024
STAR TREK
Cycling Plus UK

STAR TREK

New tube shapes and carbon lay-up makes the eighth generation of Trek's legendary Madone an aero and climbing bike all rolled into one

time-read
4 minutos  |
October 2024
GOLD RUSH
Cycling Plus UK

GOLD RUSH

With conflict around the world, Paris 2024 was a ray of light. Here are our highs of a mighty Olympics

time-read
1 min  |
October 2024