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| 03.11.2003Walking and cycling boom on the UK National Cycle Network |
More than 11,500km of the UK National Cycle Network (NCN) is now open for use, and new routes open at the rate of 1,000km a year. As the Network expands, there seems to be a critical mass effect; usage increases rapidly on existing sections – even those which have been in use for years.
In 2000, Sustrans’ usage monitoring programme showed that the NCN carried 60 million journeys. By 2002 this had grown to 97 million – 48 million by bike and 47 million walking trips. Usage rose 13% over the two years on the sections in place in 2000.
Key facts are:
- 35% of route users could have used a car, but chose to walk or cycle instead
- journeys on the NCN are for all purposes; 43% of cycle trips are to work, shops or other services
- 72% of users say the NCN has helped them to increase their level of physical activity
- 45% of cyclists say they will cycle more in future.
Dr Andy Cope, Head of Sustrans' Research and Monitoring Unit, said, "our analysis shows that the National Cycle Network is helping to raise levels of walking and cycling across a broad demographic spectrum. It is already a significant health intervention, and we expect the benefits to continue increasing in the future."
The NCN usage survey is compiled from automatic counters across the NCN and face-to-face user surveys at 71 sites.
The full 2002 usage report can be downloaded as a pdf file.
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Philip Insall, Sustrans
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