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3. Key Issues for Cycling and Walking in the National Park
3.1 Network – History and geography has shaped the access network across the South Downs.
Originally, rights of way (RoW) emerged from peoples’ journeys to work, school and
church. Today, they function primarily as recreational routes. There is a shortage of ‘family
friendly’ paths that are suitable for inexperienced cyclists and vulnerable users who prefer
traffic free, level, easily navigable trails with prepared surfaces (all weather) that are easily
accessed. Provision for mountain bikers is currently limited and under developed and, unlike
the Lake District and other upland National Parks, the terrain in the South Downs offers few
extreme challenges for cyclists or hikers.
3.2 Severance - The A27, M27, M3 and other major roads present a significant barrier to
access into the National Park for communities along the coastal fringe and Winchester.
While there are some good NMU routes such as the Downs Link, many RoW have been
severed by major roads and where crossings exist they are often at grade and considered
dangerous to use because of volumes and speed of traffic.
3.3 Highway Crossings – Safety concerns exist for NMUs (particularly vulnerable users such
as equestrians) at RoW crossings at grade, across highways. Concerns are magnified where
strategic trails and paths meet highways where speed limits are 40mph and above.
3.4 Access routes connecting people from population centres beyond the boundary of the
National Park are limited. There are particular gaps in the network from the urban centres
Winchester, Eastbourne and the coastal fringe to the south - urban south Hampshire and
the coastal strip of Worthing to Newhaven.
3.5 Connectivity of the access network from market towns, bus stops, transport hubs (rail and
bus) and gateways within and close to the National Park are sometimes limited.
Improvements needed maybe small scale such as footways connecting RoW and visitor
attractions with nearby bus stops, or larger infrastructure schemes such as new routes from
stations such as Alton or Hassocks.
3.6 New Development within and near to the National Park presents opportunities to
encourage cycling, walking and sustainable travel by designing in connections to the access
network, open space and green infrastructure (including cycle provisions). A challenge is to
ensure that these opportunities are fully realised by working with developers and through
the planning system of both the SDNPA and neighbouring Planning Authorities.
3.7 Information about access opportunities and related products (such as route leaflets,
signage etc) for users and stakeholders is often disjointed. Users seek information about
access and local facilities via a variety of means including websites, at trailside, in
communities and at destinations. The availability and consistency of information could be
enhanced to improve the visitor experience which commences with visit planning.
3.8 Facilities and amenities suitable for a range of cyclists and walkers near to the key trails are
inconsistent and could be improved, for example: cycle parking at attractions and
refreshment / food / accommodation providers.