 Quiet lanes do not have speed limits or speed bumps |
Cars clogging country lanes are taking the pleasure out of trips in the countryside, an environmental group said on Wednesday. The pleasure of walking, cycling or riding along a country lane without fear from speeding traffic is fast disappearing, added the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE).
Ian Shephard, with the CPRE, said a pilot scheme for Quiet Lanes in Norfolk has shown that the initiative, where walkers and horse riders are welcome, works well and should be rolled out across rural England.
Under the Transport Act 2000, local authorities can designate minor rural roads as Quiet Lanes but the Government still has not published the required regulations.
Mr Shephard said: ""It does benefit people in the countryside, and people in local villages, and it benefits visitors and those who want to go for a peaceful walk in the countryside.
'Attitude change' needed
"Obviously car drivers have a greater potential to inflict harm on other people, but we should 'share with care'.
"I think as a nation we all fall down on that, and I think this is an attempt to clearly show where quiet lanes are, and actually get people to have some attitude change."
The CPRE has issued its own Quiet Lanes guide suggesting which routes should be designated.
The campaign is being backed by actor Graham Seed, who plays Nigel Pargetter in BBC Radio 4's The Archers.
He said the scheme was "a splendid idea to try and maintain the ambience and safety of the countryside for its many cyclists, horse riders and walkers".
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