[Closed] The National Byway

I can't access the site properly on the broswer we're allowed at work.
Does it just use existing sustrans routes?
I'm all for long distance routes like this, great idea and from some of the words used it appears to go off road?

Nope, never heard of it. Website makes it look somewhere between the TransPennine Trail and Sustrans, both of which should be nuked from orbit, in my opinion. How many miles of Byway have they built yet?

Take a look at the logo, ring any bells? 😀 It's been around for years, nothing to do with NCN/Sustrans apart from being able to follow a signed route.

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Um ... you so can't actually see any of the routes on the website, only buy a paper map.

THE RURAL ECONOMY ALSO BENEFITS: BY MORE THAN £100 MILLION PER YEAR WHEN THE ROUTE IS COMPLETE AND 800 JOBS WILL BE CREATED

I'm betting it will be mostly roads.

Indeed rusty! Original map was dated 2000 so clearly taking advantage of the recent increase in cycling. Nothing wrong with that obviously.

Now you come to mention it, I have noticed the odd sign, though probably years ago. Wondered what it was all about. Then forgot about it.

How much will it benefit the economy?
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Edit: (per year)

If its a Byway then anyone on anything can use it 🙂

I shall look forward to thrashing my motorcycle up and down it then.

Nice sentiment - more cycle friendly paths and joining them up is ace

However the website seems more about self promotion and selling maps than giving any useful info - no maps to see unless you buy!

..........and for that reason I'm out!

There's a part of the National Byway running through Ely, where we used to live. All on-road of course, they just drew a line through the town that wasn't the one the NCN was already using.

Er, Okay.

I've had a look at the website now, and aside from not detailing the route on there, or telling us what the surfaces are like, and trying to charge £4.50 for a fold out map that isn't even in print yet(East Midlands section), and according to streetview using different signage on the actual roads rather than the literature, and the loops being signposted in one direction only, I'd be happy to give it the benefit of the doubt, if it wasn't for the hijacking of the term Byway, for a route(s) that appear to be 100% road in the section nearest to me and 0% Byway. A bit like the National Cycle Network, which is neither a network nor fit for cycling.

Yes, using roads so misleading name. I'll try and dig out my map from the loft but curious to know whether these have been reprinted.

So that's a FAIL then? 😆

Found a 1999 map for sale. 🙂

So that's a FAIL then?

The main route and Loops of the West Midlands Byway section, some of which is still to be signposted due to delays caused by Foot and Mouth

http://www.companieslist.co.uk/prev/03243972-the-national-byway-limited

http://apps.charitycommission.gov.uk/Showcharity/RegisterOfCharities/CharityWithoutPartB.aspx?RegisteredCharityNumber=1110196&SubsidiaryNumber=0

Average car-count on The National Byway® route is 2 cars per mile while travelling at an average of 10mph

Wonder when that statistic was measured? 1956?

Must say I really can't grasp the purpose of this at all.

towzer - thank you, that's interesting.

40mpg - you could be right there! Nice quiet roads away from all the racers without the need for a map, what's not to like?

There doesn't even appear to be a South East England section

There doesn't even appear to be a South East England section

That'll please the Northerners! 😉

It looks very popular, especially through parkland, less so through pictureskew villages though.

towzer - thank you, that's interesting

Becoming even more skeptical 🙂

CG - IIRC, it was set up as a project late nineties, but sort of faded into oblivion under the PR onslaught from Sustrans for the NCN and lottery funding.

A quick look at their last full accounts from 2011 (yes, it's a slow day at work) show a total expenditure of £92,980 of which £1,946 went on signage, maps and tour, £751 on repairs and maintenance and £58,305 on 'administration and operations'.
Becoming even more skeptical

Mmmm, a FOI request rusty? How does one find out the contribution made by each Council, in other words us Council Tax payers?

CG - IIRC, it was set up as a project late nineties, but sort of faded into oblivion under the PR onslaught from Sustrans for the NCN and lottery funding.

Thanks ninfan and curious as to why it's now been resurrected.

There doesn't even appear to be a South East England section

There's signs in the Fens, so there certainly is bits at least.

Very much adding up to an epic fail.

Average car-count on The National Byway® route is 2 cars per mile while travelling at an average of 10mph

I see fewer cars than that on my sunday road ride (30 mile loop) so it is possible.