“The key objective of an elected member nominated to act as a Cycling Champion will be to support and encourage the Council in its work to ensure that the promotion and encouragement of cycling as a means of transport as well as for leisure plays a central role in the development and implementation of all its policies and strategies. This will involve engagement with stakeholders and other partners both within your council and externally.” - Cycling England
There has been no co-ordinated cycle planning in Bath. The improvements that have been implemented have been to solve specific problems and as such are unrelated to each other.
The following proposed initiatives are some that I included in my statement when I was appointed ‘Cycle Champion’ and some that have been sent to me by cyclists. I am aware that there are other projects, particularly those connected with river crossings in Bath that council officers are engaged in developing.
I am also pleased to support Bath Cycling Campaign (BCC) in their efforts to improve cycling in the city. In particular I welcome their recommendation that the Council Highways department use the Cycling England Design Checklist.
I therefore commend to the Council, BCC’s guidelines for cycle planning in Bath, which could be extended to the whole of the local authority area. They are based on the following principles:
1) Convenience – shortest way from A to B, parking close to destination
2) Safety – provision on the roads, shared spaces and off-road
3) Security – more and better parking and storage, co-ordinated with police
4) Comfort – surfaces should be smooth and hazard free
5) Affordability – Council should introduce Cyclescheme asap
I also support the co-ordinated ‘hub’ cycle planning system for routes into Bath as advocated by BCC.
Most of the proposed initiatives listed below can be looked at as ‘quick wins’ but cycling can only become embedded if important council documents – LDF/Core Strategy, LAA, Sustainable Community Strategy include robust policies for increasing cycling and specific provision for cycling. Once these strategies are in place there must be an action plan to implement them.
Advance Stop Lines
Advance stop lines at road junctions are common across the country and are used as a means to make roads safer for cyclists
Bath and North East Somerset Council policy on advance stop lines for cyclists is inconsistent. For instance where there have been cycle lanes installed, as in James Street West, lines are there, but elsewhere, such as the junction with North Parade and Pierrepoint Street/Terrace walk they are absent. It is also desirable, but not essential to have a short length of cycle lane on the approach to a junction.
Advantages
- advance stop lines enable cyclists to be clearly seen by other road users, making negotiation of these junctions safer
- allows cyclists to use the advantage of two wheels to get around quicker
- removes cyclists from the line of traffic
- a 10 metre long cycle lane approaching the junctions will enable cyclists to get to the front of the line by keeping other road users well out from the kerb
- gives a signal that the Council is taking its priority list of road users seriously
Recommendations:
1) The Board agree that Advance Stop Lines should be implemented where possible
2) That officers inspect locations in the City and install advance stop lines where appropriate
3) Costs are relatively small, but a budget should be identified
4) That in all future road alterations advance stop lines should be installed as a matter of course
5) That the policy should be rolled out across the authority, with junctions in Keynsham, Midsomer Norton and Radstock to follow those in Bath
Bus Driver/Cyclist Advice Leaflet
In Warrington their cycling lobby group has worked to produce a leaflet giving guidance to cyclists and bus drivers about how to get along safely on the roads. A copy of the leaflet is attached.
Discussions should take place with First Group to find out if the company is willing to support this initiative and contribute to the funding of such a leaflet.
Recommendations:
That officers and Cycle Champion discuss with First Group
Carrying Bicycles on buses
As a pilot project it would be useful if First experimented on service 2 with carrying bicycles on the back or front of the bus, to encourage cycling from the north and south of Bath, where the hills can discourage cyclists from riding home from the city. The Wessex Water buses, run by First Group already have racks to carry two bicycles. Providing the service on ordinary public service buses would be a very good PR exercise for First as well as encouraging more cycling from the hilly parts of town.
Recommendations:
That officers and Cycle Champion raise this issue with First Group.
Special inspection of hills around the city to make them safer for cyclists
Some hills, where cyclists travel up to 30 mph should be maintained to a better standard than other flat roads because of the added hazard to cyclists when travelling down them. Ralph Allen Drive is a case in point, which is hazardous for all two wheeled vehicles and even for some motor vehicles. Perhaps a revision of the standards set for filling potholes and an inspection, which looks at hazards for cycles and not just for motor vehicles, should be undertaken so that hazards are dealt with faster than is normal.
Recommendations:
1) that higher standards of repair are maintained where cyclists travel at speed down hills
2) that hills in Bath are inspected for repair under these new stricter guidelines
Parking Stands in City Centre
Demand exceeds supply of cycle stands in the city centre, resulting in bicycles being chained to railings. Similar to car parking spaces, the more that are provided the more that will be filled, but unlike car parking spaces, encouraging more bicycles has a good affect on the environment.
The cycle stands at present in the area are mostly on pavements, but there is potential for more stands on the roads, as in Cheap Street, where more stands can be installed with no affect on vehicular traffic or parking.
It is sometimes impossible to install cycle stands on the roads, so pavements are used. This is not an ideal place, because the stands can interfere with walking of visually impaired pedestrians.
Some stands can act as bollards as well as cycle parking stands. If possible they should be installed in areas that are well lit, well populated and covered by security cameras.
I have taken some photographs of areas where cycle stands can be installed, but we should also decide where cycle routes through the city are planned. It seems sensible to make the very centre of the city a meeting place for cycle routes from east, west, north and south. There is probably less that needs to be done to routes from north and south, but access from east and west is more problematic and some careful thought needs to be given to how cyclists can safely access the city centre from these directions.
Recommendations
That officers carry out a survey to install cycle stands on roads, initially in the city centre
Cycle Routes
That a study should be made of possible cycle routes into and through the city, working on the “Hub’ system proposed by Bath Cycling Campaign, so that these can inform the emerging Public Realm and Movement Strategy. In particular an on road route from the east should be simple to implement, using the existing bus lane and directing cyclists along St Johns Road into the centre of the city, without compromising any future cycle route planning.
Recommendations
That officers examine the Council’s map of proposed routes into the city and investigate costs of signing and any safety measures on the routes. An action plan should be established to, implement the routes over time.
Tour of Britain
Somerset County Council have organised a stage in the Tour of Britain for the last few years in September. This year the stage started in Somerset and finished in Devon. Approaches could be made to Somerset County Council, offering to start the Somerset stage in Bath. There would be a cost, but the benefits to the local economy at the end of the summer season will be beneficial.
Recommendations
Officers contact and open discussions with Somerset County Council
Free Professional Support from Cycling England
Cycling England has appointed an expert team to work with professionals in local authorities and other organisations. The Local Authority Professional Support Team has a brief to provide technical support and advice on engineering, planning, encouraging cycling and health, to enable local authorities to achieve maximum return from their investment in cycling. This is primarily through dissemination of existing and emerging good practice.
The team responds to specific requests and is able to provide up to 5 days of free technical support. Priority is given to opportunities where the assistance of the team might make most difference, and which contribute to Cycling England’s guiding principles of leverage, impact and focus.
For more information go to:-
http://www.dft.gov.uk/cyclingengland/encouraging-cycling/professional-support/
Recommendations
That officers contact Cycling England to take up this free support
Conclusions
If all of these recommendations are accepted and budgets identified, not only will the Council signal by practical action that it is taking cycling seriously as a means of transport, a leisure pursuit and a competitive sport, but it will also encourage more cyclists to be active in a safer environment. Thereby addressing the problems of congestion and pollution in the city.
Cllr Roger Symonds
Contact me with your ideas - T 01225 832144 E rogersymonds@me.com
Web site www.combedown.mycouncillor.org.uk