MikeF wrote: You don't need flagship trails to encourage people into the countryside.
That’s not what the data suggests
There are plenty of roads around and many people including me cycle them.
Maybe they’re not trying to cater for people like you?
After all it's not the countryside people want but more of a playground
That’s not what the data suggests
Far more needs doing to enable people to cycle on roads
Agreed, but it’s an irrelevance, Not everyone wants to ride on roads.
without too much diversionary effort put into trails. They are just diversionary to the real problems of cycling and just pandering to those who want to see cyclists cleared from the roads that important motor cars use.
Again, not everyone wants to ride on roads, it’s a complete irrelevance to what many riders want - however I suggest that if you want to pursue that argument then you might be better telling everyone what a disaster for cycling segregated infrastructure in urban areas has been before trying to oppose improved connectivity in the rights of way network and the expansion of a programme of National trails that currently have up to 1/3 of all recorded users riding bikes on them.
lots of people think going up and down steep rough tracks is quite enjoyable.Having gained all that height why go down to Oxted and then up Pitchfont Lane which is a steep rough track (BOAT)?
Overall, I think the broad message I’m attempting to convey here is that you appear to be mistaking what you like/think as representative of what other people, or cyclists in general, want or need. These routes clearly aren’t suited for you, that doesn’t mean that they’re not popular or needed