National Cycle Network - Signing and Route Branding Technical Information Note No. 27 September 2012
About Sustrans Sustrans makes smarter travel choices possible, desirable and inevitable. We re a leading UK charity enabling people to travel by foot, bike or public transport for more of the journeys we make every day. We work with families, communities, policy-makers and partner organisations so that people are able to choose healthier, cleaner and cheaper journeys, with better places and spaces to move through and live in. It s time we all began making smarter travel choices. Make your move and support Sustrans today. www.sustrans.org.uk Head Office Sustrans 2 Cathedral Square College Green Bristol BS1 5DD Sustrans September 2012 Registered Charity No. 326550 (England and Wales) SC039263 (Scotland) VAT Registration No. 416740656 Issue level: 02 Owned by: NCN Director Contact: martyn.brunt@sustrans.org.uk All photos by Sustrans unless noted otherwise 1 National Cycle Network - Signing and Route Branding Technical Information Note No. 27 September 2012
Introduction This Technical Information Note provides the protocol for signing routes so that they give people way-finding information and have National Cycle Network (NCN) branding along the route. The National Cycle Network is increasingly being delivered by partners, frequently local authorities, who are grant funded by Sustrans. The Connect 2 project is the current largest of these funding programmes to grow the NCN. We regard all Sustrans delivered and partner delivered projects, such as the individual Connect2 schemes, as being part of the NCN, therefore signing these route and networks should be consistent with existing NCN signing. In some locations, the new route or network is physically isolated from other parts of the NCN and can need more imaginative approaches to signing and branding. This note provides options for signing these sections of route. It is important that signing is both useful for people using the local network, providing destination and distance information, but also identifying the routes and local networks as part of the greater NCN. Achieving this, through a combination of signing, including finials to signposts and incorporating National Cycle Network wording on some signing, gives increased value and profile to the existing network. Information about signing cycle networks more generally can be found in Technical Information Note 5 Cycle network signing. If you believe your scheme should depart from this guidance, you must agree all changes with the NCN Development Manager, Martyn Brunt. See above for contact details. General requirements 1) Signing of all new cycle routes and networks including all partner delivered projects, should refer to Sustrans Technical Information Note 5 Cycle Network Signing 2) On highway signs should comply with TSRGD, sign no s 2601.1, 2602.1 and 2602.2 (See TIN 5) 3) A signing schedule must be produced for all signing. This will require agreement with the Delivery Partner and also the highway authority if using highway land. 4) NCN route number patches are the primary means of identifying an NCN route. They must be included on signs wherever possible. This includes schemes; which link directly into the existing network, form part of a future extension of a route, locations where wholly new routes are to be developed i.e. wherever possible Route numbering must be agreed between regional staff and the GIS team. Technical Information Note 26 National Cycle Network Route Numbering provides additional information. 5) DfT require formal approval for signs on highway that include route names (including National Cycle Network), however some highway authorities may be prepared to incorporate National Cycle Network wording into highway signing as a matter of routine. Routes that are developed with local identification names, i.e. Ingrebourne Way, Lodes Way, Festival Way etc are fine. Signing of named routes should include the relevant NCN number in addition to the name of the route for on and off road sections of routes.(fig 3) 6) Where all on/off road routes meet as part of the core network, the signing at each end of the off road section should clearly indicate National Cycle Network on each sign arm. (Fig 5) 2 National Cycle Network - Signing and Route Branding Technical Information Note No. 27 September 2012
7) Links from core network to popular destinations should be signed to raise awareness and increase use of the route. Where the link route is longer than 3 miles consider providing a route number, discuss this with GIS. It may be beneficial to users to have a number in addition to destination information. (Fig 6) 8) Signing links towards the NCN, from locations that are away from the core alignment should indicate the route number in brackets, i.e. (3), as well as National Cycle Network. An indication of distance is helpful but not a requirement. (Fig 7) 9) Connect 2 schemes, specifically, should include at least two finials. Isolated sections of route and networks Where a new route or network is physically isolated from existing NCN routes there are several means of identifying to users that the route is built to the standard of the National Cycle Network. This identity should encourage walkers and cyclists using it to campaign for more to be built and hopefully seek out other parts of the NCN via the website etc. It is important to integrate Sustrans by name into the signing whenever possible. As many of these signing means should be used as possible. A route number should normally be allocated as described on the previous page. If no route number is allocated, then a red number patch with the words National Cycle Network can be included in signs in place of the numbers (see Fig 2). If the route is subsequently numbered, a new red number patch can be stuck over the original patch. For off highway routes, where no route number is proposed, route signs can incorporate the wording National Cycle Network. (Fig 4). Finials can be erected as described later in this note. The Big lottery motif should be replaced with the Sustrans logo on schemes that are not part of the Connect 2 programme. These may be put up on the streets and do not have to be restricted to non-highway land. Interpretation boards (see Technical Information note 21 Route Interpretation and Information Boards) can be incorporated whenever possible. Off highway locations are ideal. They allow all funders to have their involvement acknowledged and should provide more information about Sustrans and the NCN. Sustrans land Where direction signs are erected on Sustrans managed land we should take the opportunity of adding the wording, Sustrans bringing you the National Cycle Network. Other landowners may also be happy to have signs with this additional line. See fig 1 and 1a: Sustrans bringing you the National Cycle Network Fig 1 3 National Cycle Network - Signing and Route Branding Technical Information Note No. 27 September 2012
Volunteer Ranger Plastic Sign (Fig 1a) NCN Patch Sign (Fig 2) Named and numbered NCN routes (Fig 3) (left) Lodes Way Wicken Fen C2 NCN 11, (right) Festival Way, Bristol C2 NCN 33 4 National Cycle Network - Signing and Route Branding Technical Information Note No. 27 September 2012
Sign layout Non NCN numbered route (Fig 4) NCN numbered sign layout (Fig 5) Route Named and numbered multi destination sign (Fig 6) 5 National Cycle Network - Signing and Route Branding Technical Information Note No. 27 September 2012
NCN Link directional signs, i.e. link route toward NCN 7 (Fig 7) Finials Decorative features, finials, set on top of the signpost are another ideal way of promoting the NCN. Connect 2 finials should feature the SUSTRANS and BIG logo in the centre of the finial, copies of the logos are available from the Connect2 project team in Bristol (fig 9). For other funding programmes the BIG logo should be replaced with either a red number patch, a repeat of the Sustrans logo or the funders logo where this is a funding requirement. Schemes should aim to have two finials on each route, at prominent locations or places where route users might stop. Signs and finials can be produced by Nibra Signs in Bristol (0117 963 8531). Sign arm costs are dependant upon size, basic finials start prices are around 150.There will be firms closer to projects that are capable of producing signs and finials. It is worth liaising with your Highway Authority for contact details. Welsh schemes should have bi-lingual finials. Existing finials mounted on sign posts on existing NCN branded networks. (Fig 8) Note that the top left logo is no longer used) 6 National Cycle Network - Signing and Route Branding Technical Information Note No. 27 September 2012
(Fig 9) 7 National Cycle Network - Signing and Route Branding Technical Information Note No. 27 September 2012