KEEN cyclist and Burnley councillor Roger Frost was the first to ride on the town's cycleway.
The route will officially open this summer and eventually form part of a national cycle network.
The North West link follows the Pennines, using quiet rural roads, disused railway lines and canal towpaths.
It will enter Burnley from Pendle on the canal towpath and will run along the Straight Mile before going along Parliament Street and through Towneley Park on to Mereclough. From there the path will go on to Hebden Bridge via the Long Causeway. Coun Roger Frost, executive member for the environment and transport, said: "This is really exciting news for Burnley as the Pennine Cycleway is expected to be a very popular route, similar to the 'Coast to Coast' route in Cumbria and Northumberland.
"It will put Burnley on the map and will be our first link to more than 5,000 miles of existing national cycle network and bring with it a much needed economic and tourism boost."
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