Lottery recognises cycle charity's contribution to life

A BRISTOL-based cycle charity picked a top award for its use oflottery money in creating a national network for cyclists.

Sustrans beat more than 700 other projects to win the NationalLottery's Helping Hand Awards' UK Life category.

The announcement was made at London's Tate Modern on Saturday aspart of celebrations to mark the lottery's 10th birthday.

The awards had six different categories to show the different wayslottery-funded projects have touched the lives of people throughoutthe UK.

They were open to any project which had been fully or partiallyfunded by the National Lottery and were decided by a public vote.

The National Cycle Network is made up of a series of signedcycling and walking routes linking communities to schools, stationsand city centres, as well as to beautiful countryside.

It believes safer routes are key to encouraging more people towalk and get on their bikes, encouraging healthier lifestyles,reducing car congestion and lowering pollution levels.

A GBP43.5 million award through the Millennium Commission enabledthe opening of the first 5,000 miles of the network in June 2000. Theproject remains on course to open 10,000 miles of route by the end of2005 and Sustrans hopes that further paths will be added. Anyonewanting details of the routes should log on to www.sustrans.org.uk.