Bath & North East Somerset Local Plan Revised Deposit 2003

Chapter D3. Walking and Cycling

D3.1 In 1991 some 22% of resident employees in Bath walked to work compared to 12% in the former Avon county and in the country as a whole. The Council hopes to see an increase in this high proportion and a considerable increase in pedestrian movement in the remainder of the District where only 10% walked to work in 1991. A Citizen Panel survey indicates that there may have been an increase in the proportion of journeys made on foot during the past decade.

D3.2 The Council also wishes to encourage cycle use. In 1991 the only part of the District where this mode of travel to work was at the national level was Keynsham, a reflection of the hilly topography of much of the District, away from the Avon valley. The Citizens Panel survey indicates that increasing numbers are cycling to work but there is considerable scope to increase the choice of this mode, especially for short "everyday" journeys, to add to the increase in recreational cycling engendered by the establishment of the National Cycling Network and other initiatives. (See Diagram 17B).

D3.3 In pursuit of these aims the Council adopted a Walking Strategy in May 2001 and a Cycling Strategy in July 1998. These strategies have the following objectives:

• increase the role of walking and cycling as key transport modes and to assist in reducing the use of private cars, by raising the status of walking and cycling and promoting them as safe and healthy means of transport;

• develop a safe, convenient, efficient transport infrastructure which encourages and facilitates walking, cycling and the use of public transport, and which minimises reliance on, and discourages unnecessary use of, private cars, especially for local trips;

• ensure that policies which will increase walking and cycling and meet the needs of pedestrians and cyclists are fully integrated into all the Council's strategies;

• integrate walking and cycling as essential elements in the Council's transport strategy, which emphasises traffic restraint, speed reduction, safe driving and the promotion of sustainable development; and

• ensure that walking and cycling policies respond and evolve in accordance with local needs and circumstances.

D3.4 Mechanisms which will be employed to implement the Walking Strategy include:

• identifying a network of safe and convenient pedestrian routes which link major attractions and residential areas (such routes would be provided with widened footways, improved pedestrian crossings, re-timing of traffic signals to make crossing on foot easier, traffic calming and restraint measures and projects such as Home Zones);

• ensuring that footways are maintained to a high standard;

• auditing highway and land use development schemes to ensure a positive environment for pedestrians;

• ensuring that pedestrian facilities are integrated fully with public transport operations;

• developing a road danger reduction strategy to reduce traffic danger through engineering, enforcement and education measures;

• promoting walking as a means of children getting to school; and

• providing training and advice to increase safety and enjoyment among children when they walk.

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D3.5 Mechanisms which will be employed to implement the Cycling Strategy include:

• implementing a series of measures including traffic reduction, traffic calming, junction treatments, redistribution of carriageway space and provision of shared use facilities on footways;

• auditing the highway and land use development schemes to ensure they encourage cycle use;

• providing a network of high quality cycle routes, concentrating on providing for work, school and shopping trips;

• ensuring a high quality of maintenance of cycle routes;

• developing cycle parking design standards, adopting them through the B&NES Bath & North East Somerset Local Plan and ensuring that they are met; and

• promoting and encouraging safe cycling in schools, with employers and across the wider Council area.

5.14 D3.6  DDevelopment of the Council's Cycling Strategy was continued with the publication of a draft Strategic Cycling Network in August 2000.  This includes both existing and proposed cycle routes in both urban and rural areas, some of which form part of the National Cycle Network.  The main components of this network are shown on the Proposals Map and are safeguarded by Policy T7  on Diagram 18.  Where use is made of former railway lines these routes are protected for sustainable transport under Policy T.9.  Other main links are also shown on the Proposals Map and are safeguarded by Policy T.7. The national and local cycle network includes a range of routes, for example the Chew Valley Trail, which are actively promoted by the Council.

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D3.67 Funding for the implementation of both strategies will be sought from developers by way of planning obligations.

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