Nicholas Crane promoting cycling in Ludlow and other rural areas (From Ludlow Advertiser)

Nicholas Crane promoting cycling in Ludlow and other rural areas

8:00am Monday 11th March 2013 in News By Adrian Kibbler

THE man whose television programme gave a major boost to Ludlow is on a mission to promote rural cycling.

Nicholas Crane’s BBC Two prog ramme Town about Ludlow was first broadcast in the summer of 2011 but is still being credited with bringing thousands of people to the town.

It has been shown across the globe and put Ludlow on the map of visitors to the UK.

Now the broadcaster and academic is encouraging cycling in rural areas like south Shropshire.

As MPs hold an inquiry to ‘get Britain cylcing’ Nicholas Cran,e who is vice-president of the Campaign to Protect Rural England says the countrysdide is at risk of being left behind.

‘My professional life as an author of travel books began with an OS map and school bike,” said Nicholas Crane.

“From the age of 10, my parents were happy to let me go off alone and explore the countryside by bicycle. Yet in rural areas nowadays, many B roads are not safe for bicycles, while riding on A roads can mean dicing with death.

“While we are good at building new dual carriageways, when it comes to cycle paths we are twenty years behind countries like Germany and the Netherlands.

“It’s time we changed gear and set out a bright new future for rural cycling.”

CPRE is asking MPs to for lobby the Government for action in three key areas: 􀁧 Share minor rural roads: national funding to roll out 40 mph zones and public education campaigns to encourage drivers to expect and respect other road users, such as those cycling, walking or riding; 􀁧 Safe routes along busy roads: new bodies called Local Transport Boards have just been created and are due to set out investment priorities to Government by July 2013.

Rural cycling, however, appears to have been left off their agendas.

􀁧 Promote neighbourhood level action: encouraging bottom up measures in villages and communities such as electric bike pools, community speed watch, parish travel plans and promotional events.