All considered suitable to be designated part of NCR17.
Many parts of the Sustrans network are being deprecated as they are not fit for purpose.
Sections of supposed bike routes that become deep mud, need upgrading however. No users appreciate that.
Problem is what Sustrans consider "suitable".
This looks like a lovely quiet country route, right? Well, it is. But for some inexplicable reason it's been deprecated as NCN 254.
It looks like their emphasis is on traffic free routes, not routes suitable for road bikes. And that's fine for the kids - but the sustrans network is not "about it being for everyone", as their CEO says. It's for families out on jollies.
I've long thought that there is a space for a network targeting road cyclists and commuters that avoids busy roads where possible, but fundamentally has a decent surface (fine gravel railway paths may be acceptable with a signed alternative), and takes a direct route.
Sure, there's Strava, but when your GPS gizmos go crackers, at rush hour, it's nice if there are signs to follow, instead of you knowing only one route back home to Oxford, that route being the A34.