The development of recreational cycle routes: an evaluation of user needs

During the past decade there has been increased provision of recreational routes throughout Europe, North America and Australasia. Many of these have been primarily resource-led in terms of using redundant assets rather than designed on the basis of user expectations. This paper is concerned with identifying and evaluating factors that are considered important by casual recreational day cyclists when using recreational cycle routes. A small-scale study was undertaken regarding the development of recreational routes in the Staffordshire Moorlands, UK. The research findings reveal that the cyclist seeks a combination of specific technical and service characteristics such as quiet, traffic free routes that are signed. In addition, they seek a range of intangible attributes such as good scenery, and services, particularly refreshments or way-marking.