How to create a new traffic-free path
Traffic-free paths can transform communities.
They are a place where young children can wobble around safely as they learn to cycle, where families with buggies and mobility scooters can all get outside together, and where commutes become stress free.
In many rural areas they are a crucial link, making it possible to cycle between villages avoiding a fast main road.
How can you create this magic where you live?
Laura Laker, journalist and author of ‘Potholes and Pavements: A Bumpy Ride on Britain's National Cycle Network’, wanted to find out. She spoke to groups in Kent, Somerset, Dumfries and Galloway, and many other places – as well as National Cycle Network founder John Grimshaw.
The result is a comprehensive, frank and inspiring guide to how they did it.
Hear Laura speaking about some of their stories at our online discussion on Tuesday 7 July.
Laura says: “Working on this project for the past year has been one of the great privileges of my career so far. In both the book, and in this toolkit, I have been constantly inspired by the efforts of small groups of people, sometimes over decades, absolutely committed to achieve something positive for their communities – not least for children.
“Seemingly everything, from the planning process to a lack of funding for rural active transport, is stacked against communities wanting a greenway – but they refuse to give up.
“I hope the words of those who have succeeded can inspire, inform and initiate more of these routes nationally – and bring delivery time down to years, not decades. I also hope they shine a light on the benefits of these paths to local communities.
“Some of those words are incredibly moving, such as from groups in Somerset and rural Scotland where local mobility scooter users can finally access nature unaided for the first time – or children can cycle to school.”
The rural paths toolkit covers:
- Identify a need
- Identify a corridor
- Work with landowners
- Work with local authorities
- Being part of local policies
- Building a groundswell of local support
- Dealing with opposition
- Work with local reporters, journalists and social media
- Keeping the momentum going
- Working with volunteers
- Being part of a network
- Building
Webinar: Creating new community paths with Laura Laker
Join our online discussion on Tuesday 7 July to hear from Laura about the inspiring people that she met while creating her new rural path toolkit, and what she learned from them.
