2006 Prize Winners
Urban Bikes, Hastings
The judges liked this simple but effective project which targets the over-50’s, offering rides, different types of bike to try out, bike checks, advice on maintenance and discounts in local shops. The panel agreed that targeted promotion like this is probably more effective than a scattergun approach and, in this case, clearly addresses a health agenda for our more senior citizens. It also welcomed the involvement of an important organisation like Age Concern which may be able to spread the message much more effectively among their target group than more conventional cycling organisations.
Luton Borough Council / Sustrans
Recycling old bikes back into the community is not new and in itself might even be more an exercise in reducing waste rather than promoting cycling. The judges however felt that this scheme offered something new by not selling the bikes but supplying them free, and linking this to National Standard cycle training. The availability of suitable free bikes is clearly invaluable to anyone thinking of trying out cycling or embarking on cycle training, be it to individuals or, pooled, to schools or community centres. The panel also liked the follow up - retrieving any bike that does not continue to be used.
North Yorkshire County Council
The judges liked the novelty and simplicity of this scheme, which offered entry into a free bike competition just by completing a brief questionnaire and pledge form. The details supplied enabled some follow up on a targeted basis which, it was estimated, has resulted in 7% of participants cycling more often. The panel would have liked to see absolute numbers as well as percentages but overall felt this approach was sufficiently different and potentially productive elsewhere that it deserved to be highlighted by the conferring of an award.
Honourable Mentions
Haddenham Cycle Training
The judges very much liked the whole-village, community-wide approach to this project, compared to just leaving it to individual schools to do their own thing. They were pleased to note that training is now in line with National Standards and, to a degree, cycling has been incorporated into the curriculum and timetables of schools. Noteworthy too is the involvement of parents and the positive effect this seems to have on their own travel behaviour. The panel decided against offering an award in this case primarily because many schools are now offering the same standard of cycle training and it was looking primarily for new ideas to highlight nationally.
Burnwood Community School
The judges were impressed by the comprehensive package on offer and they particularly liked the quality cycle parking, the 'collector cards' to earn free cycle lights and the supply of 20 school bikes for pupils and parents to use if they do not have their own. It is encouraging to learn that some parents now cycle to school with their children and up to 12% of pupils now regularly cycle to school during the summer. The panel also noted how the pro-cycling measures fitted into the wider School Travel Plan. It had reservations however about the training package on offer as there was no indication of how it fitted in with the new National Standard.
The 2006 Awards were generously sponsored by cycle parking manufacturer Cycle Works.
Click here to see the 2005 winners.
The National Cycle Project Awards recognise projects that demonstrate value in assisting and encouraging cycling. We are particularly looking for examples of outstanding, innovative practice, worthy of national recognition with evidence of benefit to cyclists or cycling
The awards are run jointly by CTC, the national cyclists’ organisation and CCN, the federation of cycle campaign groups, with the aim of encouraging best practice in promoting cycling. They publicise and raise awareness of successful schemes or projects that are making a positive contribution to cycling. These could be implemented by local authorities, transport operators, businesses, schools, community organisations or anyone else. Consideration will be given to projects of any kind that are shown to have made a difference.
Criteria
- Schemes or projects must have been operational for at least three months at the time of nomination – and long enough to supply evidence of success.
- Entries should be accompanied, where appropriate, with evidence of performance, preferably in the form of a before and after comparison.
- As far as possible, evaluation should be based on objective rather than subjective criteria, measured against verifiable standards.
- The judges are unlikely to select an non-road track for an award unless the application can demonstrate how it fits in with an overall cycling strategy. It would need to display the highest standards in terms of design, surface quality and maintenance, interconnectivity at all intermediate points, signing to and from the track, appropriate lighting and absence of personal security problems.
- The judges welcome nominations from schemes which may not be immediately obvious as cycle schemes. For example congestion charging, parking controls, streets or town centres or junctions that are cycle-friendly but do not necessarily involve specific cycle infrastructure.
For more information about the 2007 Awards please contact: adam.coffman@ctc.org.uk.
