Supported by a £43.5 million grant from the Millennium commission, the Network involves the active participation of more than 400 local authorities, the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, and other public and private bodies.
The Network will comprise a linked series of traffic-free paths and traffic-calmed and minor roads connecting urban centres and the countryside, and reaching all parts of the UK. These will provide a safe, attractive, high quality network for cycles and major new amenity for walkers and wheelchair users.
More than 5,000 miles will be signed and mapped by June 2000, with the whole 9,000 miles completed by 2005. The Network will connect with thousands of further extensions.
The Network provides a focus of activity for local authorities; major landowning and countryside bodies; public and private transport interests; environrmental concerns; protection of the countryside; health, sport and disability; all metropolitan and major cities; transport and planning professionals; domestic and inbound tourism; corporate support; public events and volunteering; charitable and community involvement; Safe Routes to Schools; sculpture, public art and design; millennium celebrations.
