National Highways accused of ‘systemic failure’ on cycling provision in England

Without adequate crossing points and safe alternative routes, A-roads and motorways can make local walking and cycling journeys more hazardous. Photograph: Justin Tallis/AFP/Getty Images

National Highways has been accused of a “systemic failure” on cycling provision after freedom of information requests revealed it did not know whether its infrastructure met its own design standards.

The Department for Transport also admitted the government-owned body in charge of trunk roads was using a loophole to deliver substandard shared use paths in rural areas instead.