Cycle routes - A guide to objective assessment

Imagine that each input aspect of a cycle route shown in the fourth column is either good, (worth 2 points), adequate (worth one point) or useless, in which case give it zero. Total these points and you will have your rating! You may think the ratings are not perfect. I agree, but they are consistent. Basically these criteria give the objective grade of the route. Low scores are bad, and high scores are good. Any route which scores less than four is probably not worth cycling on. Ordinary roads generally score 6 7 or 8.

Route	The name of the route
Length (km)	Total distance of route as described	Rating	Verbal indication of quality, relative to the scores below (see footnote)
Authority	The authority responsible for the route or the area where the route is located	Surface	None = 0 Friable = 1 Metalled = 2
OS Sheet	The Ordnance Survey 1:50000 "Landranger" map sheet number	Width	<1m = 0 1 to 2m = 1 >2m = 2
Between	The Westernmost end	Traffic	>10 cars/hour = 0 1-10 c/h = 1 0 traffic = 2
OS Ref.	The Grid references of the above	Stops	Enforced stops = 0 No enforced stops = 1
and	The Easternmost end	Danger	If there are external dangers = 0 Safe = 1
OS Ref.	The Grid references of the above	Navigability	Confusion in route = 0 Obvious route = 1
Date	Date route was surveyed	Route	If there is a faster alternative route = 0, if it is the fastest route = 1
Author	Name or contact for surveyor	Score	Sum of the above seven. The crux
By Rail	Nearest Railway stations (and their distance from the nearest point on the route)
How to find	Brief instructions on how to find the route
Connection	Indication of any adjacent or near cycle routes with links
Comments	Brief comments by the surveyor or editor

Footnote. The following totals give the following grades

0,1,2 & 3 = "Use the road"	7= Good
4= Poor	8= Very Good
5= Passable	9= Excellent
6= OK	10= Perfect

A map

Pictures

Example