Early in 2010, CTC conducted a survey to see what cyclists wanted to see in a National Cycle Plan for England. We submitted the results to the Department for Transport and, in February 2010, the national plan appeared as part of the Government's Active Travel Strategy.
The results of our survey are summarised below (a full report is also available):
Ambition to increase cycling
- 66% want to see a doubling of cycling within 10 years, with the long term commitment to make cycling the normal journey choice for short trips.
- 30% want to go further, with a more than doubling of cycling within ten years
Investment in cycling
- 50% want to see an increase in funding for Cycling England, with the investment going to focus on providing training to all.
- 27% want to see increased investment focused on the Cycling Towns and Cities programme.
- 10% want additional investment to bypass Cycling England and go straight to local authorities.
The survey asked which policy area would have the greatest impact on cycling levels. The issue which respondents felt would have the greatest impact, by a long way, was road design - with 77% believing it would have a large impact.
The survey also asked for which radical or innovative measure might be a good flagship proposal to show strong political commitment to cycling. An entitlement to compensation - or driver liability - was rated the most important, with a 20 mph default urban speed limit the next highest.
Other issues mentioned by respondents included the need for greater cycle priority at junctions, better driver training, more cycle parking and the removal of barriers on cycle parking - an issue of particular concern for handcyclists and cyclists with disabilities.
