A CYCLIST has warned that despite the need for greater protection for two-wheeled road-users a reduced 40mph limit on the A590 would “damage” the economy.

Barrow and Furness MP John Woodcock voiced his concerns after campaigners called for a lower speed limit on roads which are part of the National Cycle Network.

The network spans 16,505 miles and is seven times longer than our motorway system but the charity which has built it up over the last 23 years has branded almost half of it as “poor” or “very poor”.

It incorporates 11,302 miles of “on-road” sections, covering the length and breadth of the UK

A review published yesterday by Sustrans argues that 2,596 miles of the on-road sections are too fast for safe cycling and could be candidates for speed limit reduction schemes.

Sustrans wants the speed limit on rural roads used by the network reduced to 40mph and urban roads to 20mph.

Route 70 on the network forms the principal route of the 128-mile Walney to Wear (W2W) long-distance coast to coast cycle route.

Apart from the only traffic-free section on the A590 in the Haverthwaite area the rest of the route between Barrow and the M6 is on parts of the road with speed limits of up to 70mph.

But Mr Woodcock, a keen cyclist who has championed the case for improved safety for bike-users, believes reducing the limit on the A590 would cause “significant damage” to the economy.

“The safety of cyclists is vitally important but lower speed limits are no substitute for the proper cycle paths our area desperately needs,” he said.

“It is a disgrace that the A590 is included on major national cycle route despite an appalling lack of decent protection for cyclists; as was brought home to me during our Walney to Whitby charity ride in the summer.

“But while I appreciate the sentiment, I am concerned that a blanket rural 40mph limit that included major arterial routes like the A590 would do significant damage to our economy - our priority instead ought to be a major increase in cycling infrastructure.”

The National Cycle Network, marked by blue and red signs, also includes 5,273 miles of traffic-free cycle paths, bridleways and canal towpaths used by millions of cyclists and walkers each year.

The review from Sustrans claims there are 15,680 incorrect, missing, obstructed or confusing signs on the network and 16,435 barriers, including steps, bollards and gates.

In its review Sustrans says the National Cycle Network is so starved of funding that many of its bike paths desperately need improvements.