Cycleway legal status

[Nearholmer]

Besides agricultural impact, a couple of other things that need to be considered in thinking about ‘upcycling’ existing bridleways are historical context and landscape context.

Some bridleways in some places are very ancient, and their form is integral with the landscape, things like packhorse routes in the Dales, Ridgeways on various chalk down lands etc. Even some lowland bridleways are the ghosts of drove-roads.

One would want to think several times before changing the character of some of these ancient route-ways.

[Steady rider]

Inter-village routes are best selected using deep local knowledge, and anything which smacks of a blanket solution could easily provoke hardy opposition and trouble, rather than help.

It might be more productive in the long run to set-out a framework or code of practice for selecting and designing routes, one which draws attention to lots of options, rather than be too definitive.

For about 200+ years people have probably considered the options for their local villages, footpaths. bridleways and roads have all been options in most cases. The first two options do not have vehicles, so trying to improve the framework for both, could in theory be of value.
I don't see lots of options for cyclists but in each situation careful consideration of any proposals would probably occur. The suggestions 3 and 4 could be completed in a reasonable time - in the case of bridleways it could find in some situations little if any change is warranted or it could find some changes may be worthwhile or a trail be conducted. The 'suitable compensation' and 'expenses' for land owners could also be a factor to consider.

3)
Review footpath conversions to joint use by pedestrians and cyclists, with regards to premissive and agreement procedures, to consider the number of arrangements made in the previous 10 years. Assess if other arrangements may provide more public benefit in delivering more off road routes and suitable compensation for land owners.
4)
Review bridleway status to consider what suitable standards may apply and expenses for land owners/local authorities in delivering surfaces suitable for cycling.

ps
A bridleway on route 66 near York had surface problems and Sustrans made suitable repairs, so why not try to have a reasonable standard if possible.