Today's entry reports on plans to introduce a cycleway along the route of HS2.
As part of a 'nationwide drive' to promote cycling in
cities and national parks across England, the government has announced ambitious proposals for a national
cycleway following the route of the HS2 rail line. It is designed
to link 'communities and rail stations to work, schools and
shops as well as countryside and tourist attractions along the
way'.
The main announcement concerned allocations from the governments
fund for easier and safer cycling in urban areas, and funds have
also been announced that will be used to improve access to national
parks by bike.
The HS2 national cycleway, however, is in the early stages of
planning and does not have funding at this stage. The proposal is
to create the route largely by linking and upgrading existing
paths. The government will undertake a feasibility study,
with more details to follow 'in due course', so watch this
space.
Groups opposed to HS2 are not impressed with the proposal and have
accused the government of 'greenwash' by trying to
associate HS2 with an environmentally friendly transport
initiative.
Their suspicion is that that the decision to link the 'national
cycleway' to the HS2 route rather than any other line is
motivated by the government's need to build wider support for
HS2.
They also question the basic concept, specifically whether large
numbers of people are really going to cycle regularly between any
of the cities linked by HS2.
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