Sustrans

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Sustrans is a British engineering charity which promotes sustainable transport. The charity is currently working on a number of practical projects to encourage people to walk, cycle and use public transport, to give people the choice of "travelling in ways that benefit their health and the environment"<ref>Sustrans, 2005. "About Our Work." Accessed 2005-12-20.</ref>. Sustrans' flagship project is the National Cycle Network, which has created 16,000km (10,000 miles) of signed cycle routes throughout the UK, about 30% of which are not on roads.

As well as the National Cycle Network, Sustrans is working on Safe Routes to Schools, Safe Routes to Stations, Home Zones (Liveable Neighbourhoods) and other practical responses to transport and environmental challenges<ref>Sustrans, 2005. "Our Projects." Accessed 2005-12-20.</ref>. Sustrans administers over 1500 volunteer Rangers who monitor over 60% of the National Cycle Network and contribute to the maintenance and promotion of the routes. Sustrans also works to promote cycling both for recreational and utility purposes, for example, by working with local authorities to organise cycling events and holding information and merchandise stalls at fairs and festivals<ref>Sustrans, 2005. "Events." Accessed 2005-12-20.</ref>. Image:Bristol bath path 08.jpg

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History

Sustrans was formed in Bristol in July 1977 as Cyclebag by a group of cyclists, and environmentalists motivated by the 1973 oil crisis and their perception of poor provision for cyclists in British cities<ref name=guide>Sustrans, 2002. The Official Guide to the National Cycle Network. 2nd ed. Italy: Canile & Turin. ISBN 1901389359. Relevant section reproduced here.</ref>. A decade earlier the Beeching axe had closed many British railways that the government considered to be underused and too costly. One such railway was the former London, Midland and Scottish Railway line from central Bristol to Bath, which had been closed as it competed with the former Great Western Railway between the cities. Sustrans acquired this wide, flat route with the help of Avon and Bristol councils (Bristol and Bath were then part of the county of Avon) and turned it into their first route, the Bristol and Bath railway path<ref name=guide/>.

In the early 1980s when unemployment rose, the organisation took advantage of benefits to employ people in major cities, whose local authorities were often keen on the Sustrans idea, to build similar 'green routes'. British Waterways collaborated with Sustrans to improve towpaths along many canals and open them to cycle traffic. In 1983 the charity Sustrans was founded, which currently has eleven directors who are also the trustees, members, and board members of the charity, and are chosen by the existing board. There is also an Executive Board currently composed of the Chief Executive and one of the two Company Secretaries <ref>Sustrans Ltd. & PriceWaterHouseCoopers LLP, 2005. "Annual Report for the year ending March 2005." Accessed 2005-12-20.</ref>..

By the early 1990s Sustrans had a growing supporter base and the Network of national routes was emerging. In 1995 they were granted UK£43.5 million from the Millennium Lottery Fund<ref>Sustrans, 2005. "Celebratory Events in 2005." Accessed 2005-12-20.</ref> allowing them to extend the National Cycle Network to smaller towns and rural areas, as well as launch the Safe Routes To Schools project, based on earlier state projects in Denmark.

The organisation is now working to introduce Safe Routes to Stations and Home Zones among other projects.

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Funding

The National Cycle Network was the first project to receive Millennium Commission funding in 1995. Sustrans currently has many sources of funding, and in the 2004/05 financial year Sustrans income was £23.6 million. Of this £2.1 million came from the donations of supporters. £8.5 million came from the Department for Transport, and a further £2.5 million from the National Opportunities Fund, specifically for the Safe Routes projects. Additional funding comes from charitable grants and trusts, local government and income from the sales of maps and books<ref>Sustrans Ltd. & PriceWaterHouseCoopers LLP, 2005. "Annual Report for the year ending March 2005." Accessed 2005-12-20.</ref>.

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National Cycle Network

Template:Main The National Cycle Network was officially opened in June 2000<ref name=cns>Cycle-n-sleep, 2005. "Sustrans." Accessed 2005-12-20.</ref>, though 5000 miles had already been completed, and some routes had been open for over a decade. In 2005 the network reached 10,000 miles<ref>Sustrans, 2005. "Celebratory Events in 2005." Accessed 2005-12-20.</ref>. In urban areas almost 20% of the network is free from motor-traffic, though these sections can account for up to 80% of use. Sustrans estimate that in 2004 the network carried 100,000 journeys by all classes of non-motorised users, of which around 20% were for utility purposes, such as commuting and for shopping, although source data for the estimates are not published<ref>Sustrans, 2005. "National Cycle Network Route User Monitoring Report to end of 2004." Accessed 2005-12-20.</ref>. The ultimate goal of the network is to carry 100 million journeys, with 60% utility cycling<ref name=cns/>.

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See also

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External links

Websites for specific routes:

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References

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