Rights of Way Improvement Plans (England & Wales)
Briefing
Potentially, Rights of Way Improvement Plans can help boost cycling in the countryside
Tuesday, 16 January 2018
Rights of Way Improvement Plans (England & Wales)
Policy Key Facts
- RoWIPs were introduced by s60 of the Countryside & Rights of Way Act 2000 (CRoW), and all local authorities (apart from inner London authorities), must produce them.
- In their RoWIPs, local authorities must state the action they propose to take for the management of local rights of way, and for securing improvements.
- RoWIPs must be based on an assessment of:
- the extent to which local rights of way meet the present and likely future needs of the public;
- the opportunities provided by local rights of way (and in particular by footpaths, cycle tracks, bridleways and restricted byways) for exercise and other forms of open-air recreation and the enjoyment of their area;
- the accessibility of local rights of way to blind or partially sighted persons and others with mobility problems.
- Local Access Forums (LAFs), parish councils and others are involved with the development of RoWIPs.
- RoWIPs have to be reviewed after 10 years, but there is no requirement to implement them.
Cycling UK View
- There is currently a considerable, suppressed demand for traffic-free off-road cycling routes, especially close to where people live. Provision for family cycling is particularly poor. RoWIPs offer opportunities to improve off-road cycling provision, including for people who use adapted cycles.
- To maximise the benefits of cycling, the delivery of RoWIPs should:
- Be informed by a survey of the off-road cycling network to identify gaps and implement improvements
- Promote, sign and maintain routes for cyclists
- As resources are likely to be limited, RoWIPs benefit from the input of volunteers working through the Local Access Forum (LAF) and in conjunction with local authority staff.
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