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Introduction | Cycling Nationally | Cycling in Cheshire | Cheshire's Commitment | Benefits of Cycling | Strategy Aims and Objectives | Where we are now | Where we would like to be | Action Plan | Action List
The County faces a situation that demands a response
Growth in popularity and awareness of the benefits of cycling as a convenient, economic, healthy and environmentally friendly mode of transport, and not just as a recreational pursuit, justifies the need for further action to be taken by the County Council to develop and encourage it wherever possible.
The task will not be easy, but the County Council is one of the organisations well placed to promote cycling within Cheshire and able to access national funds. To help, this strategy has been produced which sets out the County Council's approach to cycling policy, drawing together and developing the various policies and initiatives, some of which are already being pursued. It has been prepared following the Council's endorsement of the Cheshire Sustainable Transport Strategy (July 1996), which sets out an approach for transport and travel ranging from encouraging more fuel efficient vehicles through to development public transport networks.
The need for a Strategy
Cycling is today seen as a serious part of both national and local transport policy. An increased perception of cycling as a real alternative mode of transport to the car and a growth in cycling as a leisure activity has increased the demand for cycling The message is quite clear that there is a need for more and better cycling facilities and that the time is now right to try and secure these facilities in Cheshire.
This Strategy arises from the need to:
- accelerate the development of cycling in the County while ensuring a structured and co-ordinated approach.
- set out priorities and actions for the development of cycling facilities to guide the Highways and Transportation Local Joint Committee in each District in the development of cycling Action Plans.
- provide a link into other County Council programmes, such as Local Agenda 21, Cheshire's Sustainable Transport Strategy, TravelWise and the Cheshire Sustainable Tourism Strategy, which recognise cycling as making an important contribution to the overall aims.
Nationally, cycling is being taken more seriously, increasingly gaining a higher profile
Government policy now reflects much of what the County Council has been saying for some while, in its pursuit of more sustainable transport policies. Emphasis has shifted from meeting the demand for car travel to encouraging better access by foot, cycle and public transport. To help achieve this Planning Policy Guidance suggests we plan for fewer and shorter trips, whilst reducing the need to travel through land use policy.
Today more people than ever have access to cycles. This is reflected in nearly a 500% rise in cycle sales in the UK since 1970. This is not however, equalled by a rise of cycle use, only 2.3% of people in the UK make their journeys to work by cycle; this is compared to 11% of people in Germany, 18% in Denmark and 27% in Holland.
There is increasing national as well as global recognition that growth in traffic cannot continue. In the UK alone car traffic is predicted to increase between 83% and 142% from 1988 to 2025. At the Earth Summit in Rio world leaders recognised that current trends in transport are not sustainable - whether it be in terms of the consumption of natural resources, of air pollution or of threats to our climate such as "global warming". The United Nations have asked local councils to prepare a Local Agenda 21, its purpose is to make us think about how better to balance human need with care for our surroundings and to decide locally on the most effective course of action. In relation to transport and to how we travel, alternatives such as the cycle are now being considered as a serious alternative to the car for some journeys.
So far cycling has received some National attention. Most recently the National Cycling Strategy launched in July 1996, sets the vision of more cycling and the objective to increase cycle use, a central target is also promoted of doubling the number of trips by cycle (on 1996 figures) by 2002, quadrupling the number of trips by 2012. The Countryside Commission have also produced research results on recreational cycling in support of their objective of improving and extending opportunities for the public to enjoy the countryside. The Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution, in their report on 'Transport and the Environment' set a target of increasing cycle use to 10% of all journeys by 2005, compared to 2.5% now.
The County Council's response so far has been to recognise the need for change
The "Sustainable Transport Strategy" sets out the vision of a safer and environmentally sustainable transport system, which offers choice of modes with good and efficient access to employment and services whilst minimising the need to travel and the use of natural resources. This is strongly endorsed by the residents of Cheshire with cycling receiving much support.
Only four percent of travel to work journeys in Cheshire are currently made by cycle. There is however, great diversity in cycle use through out the County, with up to five times as many residents in Crewe and Nantwich and Vale Royal Boroughs choosing to cycle to work, than residents in Macclesfield and Halton. Each Highways and Transportation Local Joint Committee will consider setting their own specific targets for cycling.
Cheshire County Council's Quality of Life Survey (1996) has reported on the attitudes and experiences of adults in Cheshire. Nearly half of those surveyed said that nothing would persuade them to use their cars less, although generally more cycle lanes were supported as a traffic improvement action.
The attitudes and experiences of children also need to be addressed. Children are often discouraged from cycling, especially to school, where the journey often entails the use of busy and congested roads. Creating safer cycle routes to schools is one of the ways in which the County Council may help to encourage a cycling culture among a new generation of cyclists.
The Department of Transport has highlighted that:
- At 40 mph a person hit by car stands an 85% chance of dying
- At 30 mph the figure is 45%
- At 20 mph the figure is 5%.
Source: Department of Transport 1992
Cheshire County Council have so far agreed to:
- support the SUSTRANS national cycle network and national cycling targets (Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution)
- define and encourage safer and more comprehensive urban cycle networks through local transportation studies and local plans
- encourage the provision of secure cycle parking in town centres, railway stations, public buildings and places of work
- promote leisure use of cycling and links between tourist attractions
- ensure there is cycling provision within the layout and design of new development
- promote cycling through TravelWise (Sustainable Transport Strategy July 1996)
Cheshire's Agenda 21
In 1996 the County council established the Sustainable Cheshire Forum to prepare Cheshire's Agenda 21, a plan of action for environmental sustainability in the 21st century. The 50 partners on the Forum include representatives from community and voluntary organisations, environmental groups, the business sector and elected representatives.
The Forum has identified key issues and set targets to reduce adverse impacts upon the environment. Transport has significant implications for the environment and for health. Targets include: *reducing journeys to work by car from 70% to 60% between 1991 and 2011 *doubling cycle journeys by 2002 and doubling again by 2011 *increasing travel by public transport from 12% to 20% by 2005 *developing a network of safe routes to schools *doubling the amount of freight carried by rail, water and pipeline by 2011. Regular monitoring will report on progress made towards these and other targets.
TravelWise
Cheshire County Council signed up to the TravelWise campaign in 1996. This is the brand name to a campaign, supported by 40 other local authorities, to raise awareness about the problems associated with car travel, especially worsening traffic congestion and air pollution attributed to car exhaust emissions. Instead, it acts to promote the greater use of suitable alternative modes of travel such as cycling as well as walking, public transport and car sharing.
As the County's largest employer, the County Council is itself taking steps to introduce a comprehensive staff travel strategy to encourage a reduction in its own travel demand both to and from the workplace and for business travel. Green Commuter Plans are one way that the County Council is encouraging businesses to consider how their employees might use more sustainable ways of travelling to work; cycling is being promoted as an alternative option to the motorcar. By taking positive steps to demonstrate its own commitment to developing a more sustainable approach to transport, the County Council hopes it can encourage others to follow suit and endorse and actively pursue the objectives of its sustainable transport initiatives.
Cheshire Sustainable Tourism Strategy
The Cheshire Tourism Strategy Review (1994) advocates that the "County Council pursue tourism initiatives which are consistent with the philosophy of developing sustainable tourism". As a result, a Cheshire Sustainable Tourism Strategy was produced in 1996.
To increase the proportion of visitors coming to, and exploring Cheshire using public transport
With regard to this aim, the strategy calls for linking public transport to other activities to create a leisure experience in its own rights. Examples includes cycle hire at stations so that people can explore by bike.
To encourage recreational activity as a special way of exploring and experiencing Cheshire's countryside and heritage without depending on a car
With the demand for cycling holidays increasing rapidly, both domestically and from overseas, the strategy supports the continued improvement and development of the infrastructure for cycling. It also advocates the need for a co-ordinated marketing plan to maximise the potential of this developing resource for tourism. This should include consideration of holiday packaging and encouraging cycle hire.
An understanding of the benefits of cycling, helps to highlight what cycling can bring to the County and its residents
The range of benefits extends to issues like health, the environment, and the economy. Cycling is not perceived as being a dirty, noisy or an expensive mode of transport, rather its image as an efficient, cheap, fun and environmentally friendly way to travel is very positive and should now be built on in Cheshire.
Health Benefits
Cycling is an excellent form of exercise, those people who regularly cycle are fitter, healthier and less prone to some medical problems. The British Medical Association have stated that cyclists have lower stress levels, are less prone to heart attacks, have fewer respiratory complaints and have much less chance of obesity.
Environmental Benefits
Growth in car traffic has increased road congestion and environmental pollution, particularly in town centres and urban areas. The need for cleaner alternative means of gaining access to locations which generate trips, must be viewed as a priority. Over short distances the cycle is very efficient, being a low energy and pollution free mode of transport; 72% of all trips are under 5 miles, making cycling an ideal alternative to motorised transport.
Much of what the bike has to offer in alleviating some of the environmental problems we associate with today's transport network, hinges on its success as an alternative mode of transport to the car. Growth in cycling, but a continued increase at today's levels in motorised traffic, will have little overall affect on reducing levels of air and noise pollution. Clearly what is needed is a considerable change in current trends in transport use, towards greater cycle use. Increasing cycle use to the level found in the Netherlands could reduce emissions by as much as 20%.
Economic Benefits
Cycling is very cost effective and provides good value for money. Cycle routes are very cheap to develop, considerably cheaper than roads. Once cycle routes are in place there is little cost involved in maintaining them. Running costs are reduced to only minor maintenance costs whilst there are no additional fuel costs. A healthier nation, will also place less demands on the health service. It is a well known fact that regular exercise could help reduce the number of people requiring health treatment, whilst reducing the number of days spent away from work due to ill health.
Cycling can also help to create new job opportunities, especially within tourism and leisure, where demand for cycling holidays and day trips also increases demand for tourism and leisure facilities and services.
Central to our vision of cycling in Cheshire is the aim of:
promoting and developing cycling in Cheshire as a safer, convenient, low cost and environmentally friendly mode of transport, for commuter, shopping, social, leisure and other short trips, increasing opportunity for more people to choose to cycle thus helping to also increase the overall proportion of journeys made by cycle
The key objectives to flow from our aim are:
1. Increase safety for cyclists on the County's highways and its off-road recreational routes
This does not mean restricting access for cyclists for reasons of safety. What it does mean is making cycling safer, placing an emphasis on how cycle access can be made safer, rather than why people ought not to cycle for reasons of personal safety. This will help to overcome concerns about personal security and injury, the main reasons why people don't cycle.
2. Meet the demand for cycling within the County
Nationally, there is little support for meeting the demand for car travel through the supply of more road space. Growth in motor traffic and congestion has made more road development an undesirable solution, being too expensive and having too high an environmental cost. Conversely, there is spare capacity to cater for cycling, opportunities exist for more cycle lanes and routes, which are relatively cheap to develop, compared to road building. There is therefore justification to try and meet the demand for cycling, through the provision of more cycle routes within the County, through slowing motor traffic, perhaps relocating more road space through traffic management schemes to create better access for cycles. Where new road schemes are planned, cycling needs to be given equal status to motorised traffic, ensuring equal provision is made for cycle access.
3. To help meet the County Council's Sustainable Transport objectives, increase the proportion of short journeys by cycle, making cycling more pleasant for commuters and for leisure, linking residential areas with retail, business and recreational areas including the creation of "Green Corridors"
Cycling is an ideal alternative mode of transport to the car for short journeys, and when combined with public transport increasing the scope for intermodality, cycling also offers an alternative for longer trips. Using the cycle instead of the private car has a number of benefits, ranging from health to environmental advantages. Reducing the use of the car, whilst maintaining good access for Cheshire's residents and its non car users is an important objective for this strategy, for which the cycle is an ideal alternative.
Cycling for leisure away from urban road traffic is equally as important an issue to address. Making leisure cycle routes accessible and pleasant will help to increase cycling as a leisure pursuit, whilst also helping to increase opportunities for more people in Cheshire to gain access to leisure and recreation. Increased tourism generated through cycling also has the advantage of not increasing car traffic on Cheshire's roads.
4. Change attitudes to cycling as a healthy and environmentally friendly form of transport and recreational activity
Cycling has a poor image, it is considered by many to be a second class mode of transport, dangerous in the urban environment, unsuited to the British climate and too slow. The County Council is just one of many organisations which need to accept cycling as a serious alternative mode of transport to the car. Educating people to the advantages of cycling, promoting a better image for the cycle and making the public, employers, community groups and individuals aware of the benefits that cycling can bring to Cheshire must go hand in hand with other cycling measures like the provision of better cycling facilities.
5. Influence development; making locations accessible by cycles through the planning process, and ensuring good engineering design where cycle provision is made
There is already some encouraging guidance on how Local Authorities might influence development through their development plans (PPG13). Through the Structure Plan and District Local Plans, cycle access can be an important consideration when locating new development.
Widening the choice of access to facilities, services and goods to accommodate the cyclist, increases equality of access and reduces the number of people who become excluded by not owning a car.
6. Create partnerships and resourcing mechanisms
Although the County Council is one of the organisations best able to co-ordinate cycling within the County, it cannot act alone. Partnerships need to be developed with District and neighbouring Authorities and the private and voluntary sectors to help co-ordinate and finance the development of cycling within the County.
If these objectives are met, then a strong cycling culture will have been allowed to further develop in Cheshire. Our long term hope is that people will be able to identify Cheshire as having an ideal cycling landscape with excellent cycling facilities.
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