Over £2m to be spent on Peak District cycling project

The Pedal Peak District scheme will encourage people who do not currently cycle, or do so only occasionally, to ride a bike in the national park.

The scheme is being run by the Peak District National Park Authority and is being funded by the Department of Transport, through Cycling England.

The Peak District National Park Authority's head of communications, John Fern, said: "The Peak District National Park is one of the most beautiful places to go cycling in the country so we can offer the ideal setting for that first cycling experience – or rekindle the passion if it is years since you last rode a bike. Lots of us have bikes in the shed or garage at home, but only bring them out once or twice a year.

"Pedal Peak District wants to inspire people to come out into the national park to try the 58 miles of traffic-free, easy-going cycling routes we have, plus the many miles of quiet country lanes."

Mr Fern went on: "We particularly want to encourage people who wouldn't normally think of going cycling.

"To help them we are running bike confidence, safety and maintenance courses and also offering people the chance to hire bikes from our cycle hire centres."

The Pedal Peak District project also includes plans to create a new cycling route from Bakewell to Buxton.

This will involve re-opening four former railway tunnels that have been closed to the public since the 1960s.

Most of the 2.25m funding will be used to construct the new route, which it is hoped will open in spring 2011.

Everyone who signs up to the Pedal Peak District website and completes a short survey will be entered into a monthly prize draw to win a bike valued at 300.