Govt launches online cycling journey planner

Date: 10/4/2012

The government is encouraging more people to get on their bike through the launch of an online cycling journey planner.

Introduced by the Department for Transport, the resource is part of the Transport Direct Portal and covers every road in England.

It enables people to choose their start and end points before the planner selects a safe and suitable journey, which users can then edit if they want to travel along particular routes.

While some cyclists may want to avoid hills, others might prefer to follow scenic roads.

Local Transport Minister Norman Baker pointed out that cycling is good for both the environment and people's health.

"Our route planner helps people wanting to get out and about and enjoy cycling, as well as those who want to map the best bike route to work," he added.

The planner could also be a good way for parents to get their children to use their bikes, as a spokesman for CTC, the national cyclists' organisation, recently claimed cycling can give kids confidence when it comes to dealing with traffic.

Posted by Mary Treen