Sustrans have launched a new website to keep riders out of the traffic and trundling instead past a selection of curious sculptures on the National Cycle Network. Internet users can now go to www.sustrans.co.uk to find their nearest National Cycle Network routes and print off 1:50,000 scale Ordnance Survey based maps. If you’re familiar with streetmap.co.uk then the new Sustrans site works rather like that.

The welcome development was sponsored by Halfords, who gave Sustrans £100,000 to buy the rights for OS quality maps for off-line printing. Unsurprisingly then, there’s also a facility to find your local Halford’s store as well as other “points of interest”, including YHA hostels, National Trust properties and Millennium Commission projects. In addition there’s basic technical information (albeit mostly in the form of “ask your local Halfords”)
and Sustrans are encouraging other local amenities, services, accommodation and tourist sites to link themselves to the site in order to make it the information centre for Network cyclists.

Keith Scott, Halfords’ general manager for cycling, told www.BikeBiz.co.uk, “This site will make the routes of the National Cycle Network more accessible, and encourage more people to get out onto their bikes. As the UK’s number one cycling retailer we want to help people discover how much fun cycling can be, even if it’s
been a few years since they were last on two wheels. There really are no more excuses for not riding a bike.”

Sustrans are understandably pleased with the new facility. John Grimshaw, their Director and Chief Engineer, commented to BikeBiz, “We hope that this site will make cycling on the Network more and more attractive, and at the same time encourage all those with businesses in the countryside and tourism to make links and amenities so as to encourage their clients, staff and visitors to cycle towards a sustainable future.”