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26-643: The Comber Greenway is a 7-mile (11 km) traffic-free section of the National Cycle Network that runs along the old Belfast-Comber railway line. The cycle path starts on Dee Street in east Belfast and finishes at Comber in County Down . As well as a cycling path, it is also popular with people on foot. The most recent addition to the route was in November 2008 when the final link between Old Dundonald Road/Comber Rd junction and Comber

52-537: A National Lottery Grant from the Millennium Commission in 1995. The original goal was to create 5,000 miles (8,000 km) of signposted cycle routes by 2005, with 50% of these not being on roads, and all of it being "suitable for an unsupervised twelve year old." By mid-2000, 5,000 miles (8,000 km) of route was signposted to an "interim" standard, and a new goal was then set to double that to 10,000 miles (16,000 km) by 2005. August 2005 saw

78-559: A blue background, with an inset box showing a white route number on a red background. In general, signs do not show destinations or distances. On some older signs, regional route numbers have a blue background instead. The system of symbols is based on that used by the Danish National Cycle Route network . One thousand "Millennium Mileposts" made from cast iron were funded by the Royal Bank of Scotland to mark

104-507: A blue background. Routes have been progressively renumbered with three-digit national numbers. Some routes are numbered to match the motorways and major roads that connect the same destinations; examples include National Route 62, which by connecting the two sides of the Pennines mirrors the M62 motorway . The network is signposted using a white bicycle symbol (and on some routes, walking) on

130-476: A path (and therefore pedestrians may walk wherever they choose). Shared-use paths alongside the highway often look like sidewalks to motorists. Therefore, at side roads, in jurisdictions where pedestrians do not have priority at side roads, the priority situation at side roads on shared-use paths can be confusing and often cyclists are required to give way to turning motorists. Before the January 2022 revision,

156-543: A preliminary assessment of the proposals. Key conclusions include the preference for bus over light rail on cost grounds and the construction of much of the route along the Greenway. There is political support for the rapid transit but the EWAY route is contentious. A campaign group was formed to oppose EWAY using the Greenway and wants it rerouted along Upper Newtownards Road and increased public consultation. In October 2011 it

182-655: A wetland area emerging at the Comber Road, Dundonald where there is a toucan crossing. The route continues from Comber Road, Dundonald past the Billy Neill Centre for Soccer Excellence where the former railway line passes near the Enler River. Walkers and cyclists can cross the River Enler and farm lanes by a series of reinstated bridges before reaching its end at Belfast Road, Comber. On its route

208-425: Is a path which is "designed to accommodate the movement of pedestrians and cyclists". Examples of shared-use paths include sidewalks designated as shared-use, bridleways and rail trails . A shared-use path typically has a surface that is asphalt, concrete or firmly packed crushed aggregate . Shared-use paths differ from cycle tracks and cycle paths in that shared-use paths are designed to include pedestrians even if

234-478: The Highway Code gave no advice to pedestrians on how to share space with cyclists; there was also little guidance given to cyclists. (The 2023 edition covers both aspects. The UK Department for Transport advises local authorities that cyclists and pedestrians should not be expected to share space on or alongside city streets. Sustrans gives advice for cyclists, walkers and runners using shared-use paths on

260-621: The UK Department for Transport found that cyclists and pedestrians prefer wider non-segregated paths to more narrow segregated paths (e.g. a 3 m wide shared path, compared with a 3 m path split into 1.5 m sections). The principal benefit of a shared-use path is saving space. This may be important in environmentally-sensitive areas or on narrow streets, where a full cycle track may not be feasible. Shared use paths are criticised for creating conflict between pedestrians and cyclists and creating complaints from pedestrians and speed. Therefore,

286-540: The Greenway passes through former Belfast and County Down Railway stations at Bloomfield , Neill's Hill , Knock , Dundonald before finishing just short of Comber station. The current route of the Greenway was originally the main line of the Belfast and County Down Railway . The railway was in use from 1850s until 1950 when the Ulster Transport Authority closed it. Through the 1950s the track

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312-685: The Network. There are ten main national routes. As of 2020 they are not all complete. NCN routes beginning with numbers 1 to 6 are generally in England, routes beginning with a 7 start in Scotland and northern England, routes beginning with an 8 are generally in Wales, and routes beginning with a 9 are in Northern Ireland. The main route numbers have one digit (1 to 6 radiate clockwise from

338-517: The UK, cyclists are legally permitted to cycle on bridleways (paths open to horse riders), but not on public footpaths. Therefore, bridleways are, in effect, a form of shared-use path. On segregated or divided paths, the path is split into a section for pedestrians and a section for cyclists. This may be achieved with a painted line or different surface. It may also be delineated with tactile paving for blind and visually impaired pedestrians. Research by

364-1386: The UK, though all posts can be found in all four countries. Most mileposts contain a disk featuring symbols and text in code. There are 60 different designs, spread across the country. They form part of the Millennium Time Trail, a treasure hunt puzzle created by Sustrans in 2001. The Verse held within the coded text is: M EASURE EVERY HEARTBEAT TO COUNT OUT OUR LIFE'S SCORE/ I S "TIME TO ESCAPE" MEANT TO FIRE OUR COMING AGE?/ L OCKED IN SEASONS' BARS SWINGS PENDULUM'S CEASELESS CLAW/ L UNGS NEVER FULL ENSNARE US IN TIME'S EIGHT PIECE CAGE/ E NTROPY'S AIM SHOOTS LEPTONS IN DANCING CYCLES OF LIGHT/ N ATIONS REACH OUT IN HOPE ACROSS TIME ZONES AND LONG DEGREES/ N O CORNERS TO HIDE US, EARTH’S SHADE SPINS HOURLY ROUND TO NIGHT/ I N ALL MIND-STREAMS WE WADE, OUR WORLD-LINES WEAVE PAST TAPESTRIES/ U NCERTAIN DREAMS EVOLVE IN THE STRUGGLE FOR THE “WHY?”/ M UST IN ALL THESE TIDES OF FAITH, FLOW STILL SUCH WAVES OF FEARS?/ P LACE AND TIME TEMPT FATES, BUT ALL LIFE’S NATURE IS TO DIE/ O UR ERA, STARS, BOWS OUT, PLAYING ITS MUSICAL SPHERES/ E VERY GAINED UTOPIAN GOAL MAKES US MANIFOLD TIME’S TREASURE/ M APPED OUT, AS ABOVE SO BELOW, NERGAL TICKS OFF TIME’S MEASURE/// Shared use path A shared-use path , mixed-use path or multi-use pathway

390-535: The completion of that goal. In 2018, Sustrans published the National Cycle Network - Paths for Everyone report which reviewed the quality and usage of the Network and set out a vision for its future. The report rated 42% of the then network as 'very poor' and identified over 12,000 barriers on the network which made it inaccessible by some users. As a result, around a quarter of the network was de-designated. As of July 2020 , there were 12,739 miles (20,501 km) of signed cycle and walking route that are part of

416-679: The creation of the National Cycle Network, and these are found along the NCN routes throughout the UK. Following the de-designation of approximately a quarter of the NCN in 2020, a significant number of the mileposts are now orphaned from their intended routes. There are four different types: "Fossil Tree" (designed by John Mills), "The Cockerel" (designed by Iain McColl), "Rowe Type" (designed by Andrew Rowe), and "Tracks" (designed by David Dudgeon). The four artists are from each country of

442-509: The paths do not properly take into account the different needs of different road users. For example a study by the Institute for Chartered Engineers found that users of shared use paths were confused about the nature of the path and who has priority on them. Pedestrians are sometimes unsure how to behave on shared-use paths. The question arises whether the path is to be treated as a road (therefore pedestrians should face oncoming traffic), or

468-481: The paths on the network, the rest being made of existing public highways and rights of way, and permissive paths negotiated by Sustrans with private landowners. In 2017, the Network was used for over 786 million cycling and walking trips, made by 4.4 million people. In 2020, around a quarter of the NCN was scrapped on safety grounds, leaving 12,739 miles (20,501 km) of signed routes. These are made up of 5,220 miles (8,400 km) of traffic-free paths with

494-510: The primary anticipated users are cyclists. The path may also permit other users such as inline skating . Contrastingly, motorcycles and mopeds are normally prohibited. Shared-use paths sometimes provide different lanes for users who travel at different speeds to prevent conflicts between user groups on high-use trails. Shared-use paths are criticised for creating conflict between different users. The UK's Department for Transport deprecates this kind of route in denser urban environments. In

520-437: The remaining 7,519 miles (12,101 km) on-road. It uses shared use paths , disused railways , minor roads, canal towpaths and traffic-calmed routes in towns and cities. The Bristol and Bath Railway Path (now part of National Route 4) is a 14-mile (23 km) walking and cycling path on a disused railway. It opened in 1984 and was the first part of what would later become the NCN. The National Cycle Network began with

546-624: The section alongside Police Headquarters, a continuous route from inner Belfast to Comber. It was officially opened on 8 November 2008. As part of the Belfast Metropolitan Transport Plan 2015 published in November 2004, a rapid transport scheme was proposed for three routes in Belfast. The route to the east of the city, dubbed EWAY , proposed utilising the Greenway for either a light rail or bus link for Belfast. Consultants Atkins and KPMG subsequently completed

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572-478: The south of England); other routes have two digits, starting with the number of the relevant main route. There are also many shorter routes, reaching smaller towns and cities, that have three-digit numbers. Again, the route numbers start with the number of the main route for that region. For example, the Great North Cycleway in northern England has route number 725. Signs showed the route numbers on

598-565: Was announced that EWAY would not include the Comber Greenway in its route. National Cycle Network The National Cycle Network ( NCN ) was established to encourage cycling and walking throughout the United Kingdom, as well as for the purposes of bicycle touring . It was created by the charity Sustrans who were aided by a £42.5 million National Lottery grant. However Sustrans themselves only own around 2% of

624-478: Was lifted in phases and infrastructure, including bridges, removed. The remains of Neill's Hill station survive near Sandown Road behind Clara Park and Sandhill Gardens. In 1964 it was proposed that a section of what is now the Greenway be utilised for the M7 Motorway project. This motorway was not built. The Belfast Urban Area Plan 2001 included a proposal for a smaller-scale road along the same route, but that

650-490: Was never built either. By late in the century the Greenway had become a recreation path for walkers, cyclists etc. In 2003–04 the Knock Valley Relief Sewer was installed from Ballymacarett to Dundonald resulting in substantial excavation along the path. Subsequently a number of government agencies contributed funds to upgrade the Greenway with a modern hard surface, road crossings and, with the opening of

676-898: Was opened. This added 1.6 miles (2.6 km) to the route. One section runs through a SLNCI-designated Wetland ecosystem. The traffic-free route starts at Dee Street in East Belfast and passes the C. S. Lewis statue at the Holywood Arches, along the Bloomfield Walkway to Sandown Road where it continues past the PSNI headquarters to a newly installed toucan crossing at the Knock Road. From here it goes to Kings Road and on to Abbey Road, through Tullycarnet and Ardcarn to East Link Road in Dundonald . It continues through

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