This is an appropriate activity for National Trust countryside, carried out by a wide range of people, especially young people and families.

Both off-road and touring cyclists should receive a positive welcome. There is relatively little evidence of damage from the former category except to footpaths, but wardening is essential to prevent abuse of paths and conflict with walkers and horse riders. As a consequence, encouraging increased use is probably not practical on understaffed properties.

Where possible, however, more routes, facilities (cycle hire, racks, lockers etc) and information, particularly for family groups, should be provided. Use of the bike as a means of travelling to and between properties should be encouraged and the Trust should promote cycling as a means of transport. This activity is not adequately provided for nationally. The Trust supports the development of the National Cycle Network and sees opportunities to provide access to and through its properties.

Guiding principles

1. The National Trust welcomes cyclists on its land and encourages cycling both as an activity and as a means of transport, recognising the benefits to health and that responsible use causes negligible damage to the environment.

2. New opportunities for cyclists should be reviewed regularly within the management planning process and the different needs of touring and off-road cycling recognised.

3. Irresponsible behaviour should be discouraged, eg excessive speed, lack of consideration for others and cycling techniques which cause erosion.

Good practice

• Promote the Cyclists' Touring Club's (CTC's) and Countryside Agency's codes of conduct.
• Liaise with national or local CTC representative, cycle shops, local clubs and individuals with regard to potential routes or problems. Box Hill, Southern: leaflets and local cycling forum Long Mynd, Mercia: cycle map, local liaison Chastleton, Thames & Chilterns: liaison with local cycle hire operator linking with railway station
• Provide more information, facilities and incentives for those, particularly families, travelling to and between properties. Borrowdale, North West: cycling leaflet Ashridge, Thames & Chilterns: cycling map NT Countryside guides, National Cycle Network map guides
• As part of a wider recreational network and sustainable transport initiative identify new cycle links with public transport and alternative routes to avoid busy roads. Hill Top, North West; Chastleton, Thames & Chilterns
• Ensure that some areas remain free from cycle routes as part of a 'remote areas' policy.
• In cases of extreme conflict with walkers and horse riders, preferably after first considering alternative routes and time zoning, apply for Traffic Regulation Orders to prohibit cycles on bridleways. Monitor numbers and 'incidents' first to establish a firm case.
• Make use of the precedent agreement between the National Trust and Sustrans for the development of the National Cycle Network on Trust land.

Monitoring suggestions
Counts per day or hour at a range of specified points and areas within a site.

Trends
10% of the population own a mountain bike, although 40% are not used off-road and 50% only 2-4 times a year. The dramatic increase in mountain biking which has occurred over the past 10-15 years may now be stabilising. Although the majority of cyclists are not members of a club, the Cyclists' Touring Club has some 46,000 members.

Possible impacts

• Overall the effects of cycling on the environment and wildlife habitats are limited, although habitat damage, eg to sensitive dune systems and bird disturbance, does occur.
• Skidding can cause erosion, gullying and damage to the structure of paths particularly on wet ground.
• Erosion of pits, quarries and archaeological sites.
• Conflict with walkers and horse riders.
• Visual intrusion on open mountain and moorland. Mountain Biking and the Environment (Adventure and Environmental Awareness Group, 1992) recommends that mountain biking is in most cases inappropriate in such wilderness areas.

Contacts and liaison

Cyclists' Touring Club (CTC)
Cottrell House,
69 Meadrow,
Godalming,
Surrey
GU7 3HS

Tel: 01483 417217

Contacts: Countryside and Access Officer; Mountain Bike and Leisure Development Officer

CTC campaigns to improve facilities and opportunities for all cyclists. In addition to providing travel and technical advice, it offers legal aid and insurance and free membership of 250 local clubs throughout Britain.

Sustrans Ltd
35 King Street,
Bristol
BS1 4DZ

Tel: 0117 9268893

Sustrans plans, builds and maintains safe, non-motor routes primarily for walkers and cyclists and sometimes for horse riders. It lobbies for sustainable transport and is responsible for the development of the National Cycle Network.

Byways and Bridleways Trust
St Mary's Business Centre,
Oystershell Lane,
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE4 5QS

Tel: 0191 233 0770

Institute of Public Rights of Way Officers
PO Box 78,
Skipton,
North Yorkshire
BD23 4UP

Tel: 07000 782318

Legislation, codes and agreements
Since the introduction of the Countryside Act 1968, the riding of pedal cycles has been permitted on bridleways provided that cyclists give precedence to pedestrians and persons on horseback. This right may be restricted by orders or byelaws. Local authorities' maintenance obligations only relate to suitability for bridleway use on foot or by horse.

It is an offence under the Highways Act 1835 to cycle on a footpath. The Cycle Tracks Act 1984 authorises county councils to designate particular footpaths as 'cycle tracks', thus giving rights to cyclists which would not otherwise exist.

Both the Countryside Commission and the Cyclists' Touring Club have produced codes of conduct for cyclists.

A national precedent agreement has been established between the National Trust and Sustrans for the development of sections of the National Cycle Network on Trust land. Copies of the agreement have been circulated to all Regional Offices and further copies are available from the Estates Department.

References
Cyclists' Touring Club - 'Cycle Touring and Campaigning' magazine, six times a year.

Byways and Bridleways Trust - 'Byway and Bridleway' magazine, ten times a year.

Institute of Public Rights of Way Officers - 'Waymark' magazine.

Adventure and Environmental Awareness Group (1992). Mountain Biking and the Environment. Conference report, Adventure and Environmental Awareness Group, Coniston, Cumbria.

Countryside Commission (1997). Gearing Up - enjoying cycling in the countryside. Countryside Commission, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire (includes code of conduct).

Cyclists' Touring Club (1993). Cycle Policies in Britain. Cyclists' Touring Club, Godalming, Surrey.

Department of the Environment, Regions and Transport (1998). National Cycling Strategy. DETR, London.

DETR (1998). Guidance on Local Transport Plans. DETR, London.

National Trust (1997). Cycling Workshop. National Trust, Cirencester, Gloucestershire.

National Trust (1998). Position Statement on Transport. National Trust, London.

Shayler, M. (1993). Costing the Benefits: the Value of Cycling. Cyclists' Touring Club, Earth Resources Research Team. Cyclists' Touring Club, Ledbury, Herefordshire.

Scottish Sports Council (1996). Off-Road & Trail Cycling - Guidelines on Good Practice for Group Leaders. Scottish Sports Council, Edinburgh.

Scottish Tourist Board (1998). Step by Step - a guide to producing a local cycling leaflet. Scottish Tourist Board, Inverness.

Sports Council, Countryside Commission (undated). The Mountain Bike Code of Conduct. The Sports Council, London.

Sustrans (1994). Making Ways for the Bicycle. A guide to traffic-free path construction. Sustrans, Bristol.

Sustrans (1997). The National Cycle Network. Guidelines and Practical Details (Issue 2). Sustrans, Bristol.