CTC has welcomed Cycling England's Cycling Towns and Cities Programme as an approach that demonstrates the potential for cycling to transform places and lives in the UK.
Having worked with a number of existing and candidate towns and cities to date we are looking forward to working with the next round of bidders for new funding announced in February 2008. CTC staff and volunteers will be working with local authority staff over the next month to maximise the potential of their submissions. (Cycling England's bidding documents)
These include:
Cycle training – working with CTC’s consultancy team to expand delivery of Bikeability and introduce adult cycle training. CTC's Cycle Training Conferences are run throughout the country twice yearly and are an ideal opportunity to develop well informed training strategies.
Targeted interventions – using CTC’s Cycling Champions approach to develop community or workplace based cycling schemes. Using the methodology that has attracted £6.5 million of lottery and other funding to target cycling at employers, social included groups, young people, older people - you choose the audience, we bring the programmes.
Promotional programmes - Activities such as “5 Miles to Fabulous”– CTC’s Cycling for Women events help you target one of the key priority areas for cycling growth.
Policy development - CTC will be supporting CDT bids that demonstrate joined up working between transport planners, highway engineers, CTC consultants and local cycle campaigners to implement innovative, cycle friendly measures that meet the criteria set by Cycling England "A willingness to restrain traffic volumes and speeds and to give advantage to cyclists" - for example
Greater use of 20 mph zones and speed limits.
Qualitative monitoring programmes to analyse perceptions of danger from road traffic as part of the motivations for cycle use.
More innovative small scale engineering solutions. These could be allowing contra-flow use of one-way streets, permeability in semi-pedestrianised areas, greater use of road closures to motorised traffic and experimentation with "shared space" techniques in areas of high pedestrian and cycle traffic volumes.
Use of the 'Hierarchy of Solutions'. Bidding cities and towns should adopt this framework that emphasises at traffic reduction and speed reduction before cycle facilities.
Integrate with public transport.
Developing travel plans with employers, commercial and residential developments and public transport hubs is key to this approach
Working with the third sector - Many of the most successful current Cycling Demonstration Town programmes are partnerships between the local authority and the third sector. CTC will be hoping to support a range of new bidders who are working closely with the cycling networks CTC represents and supports – for example voluntary groups, campaigning groups, cycle trainers and social enterprises. Ensuring community and end-user input at steering group level and in the design of programmes and infrastructure plans will be of utmost importance in the development of a locally accepted and successful bid.
Professional services. - CTC’s professional services team and our associates are ideally positioned to help develop your staff team as you implement your programmes.
Contact us:
To explore CTC's support for your Demonstration Town or City Bid contact
Simone Makepeace (South East, South West, London, East) simone.makepeace@ctc.org.uk
Steve Bailey (East/West Mids, Yorks & Humber, North East, North West) steven.bailey@ctc.org.uk
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Other information:
Policy opportunities in Cycling Towns.
Greater use of 20 mph zones and speed limits. The safety reductions for cyclists and other road users from lower speeds is well-documented and there are indications that a growth of cycling also results from the implementation of lower speeds.
Monitor the impact on perceptions. Perceptions of danger are key to getting new people cycling. In addition to thorough monitoring of the impact on cycling levels, local authorities must develop qualitative monitoring programmes to analyse perceptions of danger from road traffic as part of the motivations for cycle use.
More innovative small scale engineering solutions. Bidding towns should be encouraged by the DfT to experiment with new and innovative road design and traffic management solutions to support cycling. These could be allowing contra-flow use of one-way streets, permeability in semi-pedestrianised areas, greater use of road closures to motorised traffic and experimentation with "shared space" techniques in areas of high pedestrian and cycle traffic volumes.
Use of the 'Hierarchy of Solutions'. Bidding cities should be prepared to adopt this framework for designing for cyclists, as laid out in Cycling Infrastructure Design draft. The 'Hierarchy' proposes that planners look first at traffic reduction and speed reduction before contemplating any other options for cycle facilities.
Integrate with public transport. Proposals should include partnerships with local public transport providers to look at novel means of making public transport integration easier. Developing travel plans with employers, commercial and residential developments and public transport hubs is key to this approach.
