Oxford Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP)
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Oxford LCWIP v192001 Approved by Cabinet 190317 Foreword by Cllr Yvonne Constance Oxfordshire County Council is tackling the challenges of Climate Change, housing growth, air pollution and the growing public health crisis of physical inactivity by a range of innovative transport measures. Encouraging and increasing walking and cycling is core to our approach to transport solutions and will feature highly in our new Local Transport and Connectivity Plan. This will build on the Oxford Transport Strategy within our current Local Transport Plan which has the ambition that Oxford will become a world class cycling city with an outstanding public realm for walking. The Council is embarking on a range of innovative measures to achieve this transformational change in travel behaviour. In particular, we are consulting on ”Connecting Oxford” which proposes to introduce traffic control points in the city centre and a work place levy charge for businesses in the south east arc. As part of this process, we recognise the importance of the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP). Oxford is already famous for its high levels of cycling and has one of the highest levels of walking in the UK, but we know we can and need to do more. The importance of Oxford LCWIP is that it: Sets out the evidence of how we can achieve a very challenging but realistic 50% increase in cycling in the City Lays out a comprehensive cycle network to focus expenditure for best value Identifies a list of infrastructure improvements for both walking and cycling based on best practice and our Cycle and Walking Design Guides Summarises the evidence for supportive measures, such as Low Traffic Neighbourhoods and controlled parking zones And provides cost estimates for these schemes we can use in future bids and in planning decisions We have worked with many stakeholders in preparing this document. Cyclox and OxPA, representing Oxford cyclists and pedestrians, have willingly given their time to undertake audits and review the LCWIP. We will continue to work together with Oxford City Council, the University, other stakeholders and internally with public health, planning and transport officers to implement the LCWIP. We do not underestimate the challenges, but ultimately the benefits will be felt by all the citizens of Oxford in better health, cleaner air and better journeys. Cllr Yvonne Constance Cabinet Member for Environment (including Transport) 1st January 2020 Contact: Patrick Lingwood Page 1 Oxford LCWIP v192001 Approved by Cabinet 190317 Table of Contents Foreword by Cllr Yvonne Constance ..................................................................................... 1 List of additional LCWIP documents ...................................................................................... 4 Executive Summary .............................................................................................................. 5 1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 7 2 Purpose and Layout ....................................................................................................... 7 2.1.1 Layout .............................................................................................................. 8 3 Benefits .......................................................................................................................... 8 4 Policy Background ......................................................................................................... 8 5 Climate Change Emergency .......................................................................................... 9 6 Health Benefits .............................................................................................................. 9 6.1.1 Health impacts in Oxford ................................................................................ 10 7 Housing and Job Growth .............................................................................................. 10 8 Cycling ......................................................................................................................... 12 8.1.1 Commuter trips target .................................................................................... 12 8.1.2 All cycle trips target ........................................................................................ 13 9 Assessing the challenges of meeting the cycling targets .............................................. 14 9.1.1 Most cycle trips are by frequent cyclists ......................................................... 14 9.1.2 Utility vs leisure cycling in Oxford ................................................................... 15 9.1.3 Widening journey purpose ............................................................................. 16 10 Travel to Work .......................................................................................................... 17 10.1.1 City Centre ..................................................................................................... 18 10.1.2 Headington .................................................................................................... 18 10.1.3 Cowley ........................................................................................................... 19 10.1.4 Rest of Oxford................................................................................................ 19 11 Geographic challenges ............................................................................................. 20 11.1.1 Distance and hilliness .................................................................................... 20 11.1.2 Hilliness ......................................................................................................... 20 11.1.3 Viable alternatives to cycling .......................................................................... 21 11.1.4 Social norms and social deprivation ............................................................... 22 11.1.5 Widening the market for cycling in Oxford ...................................................... 23 12 Oxford City Centre – the impact of increasing cycling ............................................... 23 12.1.1 Current journeys to the city centre ................................................................. 23 12.1.2 Encouraging more sustainable journeys ........................................................ 24 12.1.3 Current cycle counts – building on success ................................................... 26 13 How to increase cycling levels .................................................................................. 27 14 Oxford LCWIP+ 8 pillars of change .......................................................................... 28 14.1.1 Schools and children ...................................................................................... 29 15 Pillar 1 Oxford Cycle Network ................................................................................... 30 15.1.1 How was the cycle network identified? ........................................................... 31 1st January 2020 Contact: Patrick Lingwood Page 2 Oxford LCWIP v192001 Approved by Cabinet 190317 15.1.2 Oxfordshire Cycle Survey 2019...................................................................... 31 15.1.3 Detailed comments ........................................................................................ 32 15.1.4 Infrastructure preferences and priorities ......................................................... 33 15.1.5 Detailed Infrastructure Choices ...................................................................... 35 15.2 Why not a single network which meets both groups’ choices? .............................. 36 15.2.1 Other categories – gender, frequency of cycling and age .............................. 36 15.2.2 Oxfordshire Cycle Route Assessment Matrix (OxCRAM) ............................... 37 15.2.3 The near market of potential cyclists .............................................................. 38 15.2.4 Updating the cycle network ............................................................................ 39 16 Evidence for impact for the other pillars .................................................................... 39 16.1 P2 Low Traffic Neighbourhoods ............................................................................ 39 16.2 P3 City Centre Control Points and P4 Work Place Levy ........................................ 40 16.2.1 European evidence - city centre traffic control points ..................................... 41 16.3 P5 Speed reduction on the main radial routes ....................................................... 43 17 Oxford Cycle Network ............................................................................................... 45 17.1.1 How have LCWIP cycle improvements been assessed? ................................ 46 17.2 Cycle Network – added value and quick wins ....................................................... 46 17.2.1 Road improvements and maintenance ........................................................... 46 17.2.2 Removing barriers on cycle paths .................................................................. 47 17.2.3 One-way streets ............................................................................................. 47 17.2.4 Oxford Ring Road .........................................................................................