OVER 18,000 pedestrian, cycling and equestrian journeys have been made on the Pier to Pier Way in the first month of opening, North Somerset Council said.

The 13-mile route between Weston-super-Mare and Clevedon opened in July to allow people to travel between Brean and Clevedon avoiding busy roads.

Cllr Hannah Young, North Somerset Council’s executive member with responsibility for sustainable travel said: “We are delighted with the popularity of the Pier to Pier Way and the usage by walkers and equestrians as well as those on bikes.

“It’s a fantastic route that provides the missing link in our cycling network and is a credit to everyone who worked so hard to make it a reality.

“It’s fantastic that people can now cycle between Brean and Clevedon avoiding busy roads.

“Due to the popularity of the route and an increase in traffic, we would urge people using the quiet road sections of the route to be mindful of other road users and ride and walk in a responsible way at all times.”

Designed to appeal to commuters, leisure users and tourists, the route consists of quiet roads and new or improved traffic-free sections and is a ‘missing link’ and the central section of the North Somerset Coastal Towns Cycle Route.

The project builds on the success of the established Brean Down Way cycle route providing the opportunity for a host of healthy and sustainable leisure, tourism and commuting activities that will also boost the local economy.

The complex Pier to Pier project involved installing a new bridge over the river Yeo at Tutshill to separate the cycle path from the agricultural traffic in the area.

It includes a new one-mile traffic-free route crossing the Yeo and Oldbridge rivers and is based on the line of the former Weston, Clevedon and Portishead Railway.

This link allows pedestrians, cyclists and equestrians to avoid the busy A370 and save four miles on their usual journey.

Figures from today (Monday, August 19) reveal that since opening, 14,332 bikes, 3,166 people and 107 horses have been recorded using the route on the Tutshill Greenaway counter.

Feedback from the route has been extremely positive but some issues have been identified and are currently being rectified.

These include tweaks to signage and path/road markings and the cutting back of vegetation on key points on the route.

Gravel on the Tutshill Greenway section has now compacted as planned.

People using the quiet road sections of the route are reminded that agricultural traffic operates in the area and cyclists are asked to ride in line with the Highway Code and be particularly cautious on bends in the road.

Route users who may only be using a section of the Pier to Pier Way are asked to park considerately and not block verges or gates at any time.