Devon goes cycle crazy, with £25 million to be invested in the next three years

The Devon County Council has agreed a £25 million investment up to 2012 as part of a new cycling strategy to make Devon a premier destination for cycling tourism.

A number of major schemes will be funded including the Stop Line Way cycle route in East Devon, the Exe Estuary Trail, the Teign Estuary and the Ruby Way.

According to the press release, Devon was ranked the top county council in the country on satisfaction with cycle routes and local rights of way network in the recent National Highways and Transport Public Satisfaction Survey (NHT Survey).

The new strategy will aim to target investment in future routes to add to the existing 1,000km of dedicated cycling routes, improving cycling routes to schools, rolling out Bikeability cycle training across the county, and completing Devon’s sections of the National Cycle Network to link to all 28 market and coastal towns in the county.

Proposed schemes will provide a new route between Sidmouth and Feniton, a link from Buckfastleigh to Dartington and another into Totnes through Littlehempston. Abandoned railway lines, estuary routes and off-road routes will be used wherever possible to develop the cycle network.

• What are your cycling experiences? What’s your favourite route? How good is Devon for cycling? Comments below, please.