Cycling in Plymouth rises with creation of new routes

By Chris Marshall-Bell

The creation of new cycle routes has coincided with a sharp rise in the number of people cycling in Plymouth.

In the past four years the figure for the number of people riding has increased by 40 per cent with one route – the Plym Valley Trail – seeing the frequency of cyclists on its trails up by 70 per cent since 2008.

A cycle-specific route from Devonport and Stonehouse travelling east to Plymstock is almost complete, while a route from Central Park to Honicknowle via the Ham Woods Nature Reserve is near completion too.

Waterfront routes are being upgraded by the end of 2014 and the disused Laira Rail Bridge is to be opened as a walking and cycling link next year, at a cost of £3million coming from the Department of Transport’s Local Sustainability Transport Fund.