Cycle Liaison Group Meeting Notes

Date/Time: Monday 16 th November 18:00 Venue: Cabinet Room B, County Hall,

Present

Jack Stokes (Preston) Councillor John Fillis Steve Kilner ( Cycle Link) Peter Ward (Preston) (Cabinet Member for Transport Eddie Robertson (Lancashire Cycle Robin Field (CTC and Highways) Link) Lancashire) Chris Marshal (Burnley & Pendle Debbie Thompson ( Health Equity, Matt Hodges (Wyre CTC) CTC) Welfare and Partnerships Manager, Steve Carson (Leyland) Colin Hubbard (Rossendale) Lancashire County Council) Chris Smith (Wyre CTC)) Paul Stubbins (Dynamo, Lancaster) Alasdair Simpson (Cycling - Lancashire Neil Illing (Preston CTC) David Lee, (Lytham St Annes) County Council)

Apologies

Mark Ellery (UCLan), Rob McDougall (Bae), Tom Shannon (West Lancashire), Ted Dempsey (Garstang)

Lancashire Cycle Link

The Chair welcomed Steve Kilner and Eddie Robertson from Lancashire Cycle Link. Lancashire Cycle Link is a facebook magazine with over 2500 members for people with an interest in cycling in the county. http://www.lancashirecyclinglink.co.uk/

1. Minutes Agreed 2. Matters arising a) Guild Wheel (Ribble Link – A583). It was confirmed that £80,000 Community Levy Funding had been allocated to improve this section, in addition to the £20,000 already allocated by the County Council. Progress was dependent on getting the agreement of the De Hoghton Estate to improve the surface.

b) Shared surfaces – A low upstand had been provided between the carriageway and footway on Fishergate to help blind and partially sighted people identify the edge of the footway. Other shared surface schemes were likely to have a similar upstands. Members of the meeting felt that a kerb with a low upstand might cause a hazard to cyclists if they had to cross onto the footway, though it is illegal for cyclists to ride on the footway. It had been suggested that a meeting between blind groups and cyclists should be set up to discuss the issue. It was felt inappropriate for the County Council to set up a meeting between two groups that may have different views. The Guide Dogs for the Blind's website has a section on shared surfaces. https://www.guidedogs.org.uk/supportus/campaigns/streets-ahead/shared- surfaces#.VktB-KFFC1s

c) Cycle Safety Programme – Peter Ward suggested that a scheme to improve the bridleway between Worston and Pendleton should be included in the Cycle Safety Programme to offer an alternative to the current Lancashire Cycleway route which cross a fast section of the A59 Clitheroe bypass twice. The 1

programme was aimed at improving cycle safety at sites with a high cycle accident rate. There have been no accidents involving cyclists crossing the A59 between Worston and Pendleton on the Lancashire Cycleway in the last 5 years, though it is accepted that it is desirable to improve the route 3. 20 mph Speed Debbie Thompson had recently taken over responsibility for Road Safety, Limits (Debbie including 20 mph speed limits. Thompson) The 20 mph speed limit project was now complete with 250 sign only schemes in place and 200 advisory part time limits outside school.

A review of 20 mph speed limit data had been carried up by Uclan. It was difficult to say if the 20 mph speed limit project had reduced accidents at this stage, as not all schemes had been in place for 3 years and had 3 years after causality data. Before speed data was limited. Initial conclusions from 21 schemes with after data for 3 years was inconclusive. Though there has been some reduction in casualties the reduction is not statistically significant. Many streets covered by 20 mph speed limits had low accident rates anyway. Nationally speed reduction from 20 mph sign only schemes had resulted in speed reductions of 1 to 2 mph compared to 9 mph for schemes with physical measures.

The meeting felt that there was a need for more enforcement by the police. Police resources for enforcement was limited. Community support officers were not allowed to carry out speed enforcement. There had been no convictions for exceeding 20 mph speed limits to date.

It was stressed that education and promotion was also important in encouraging people to drive at 20 mph. Many people who drove at more 20 mph tended to be people living in the local area. However promotion needed to be long term to be effective.

Methods of encouraging people to drive at 20 mph included

• Speed Cameras – These have yet to be used to enforce 20 mph speed limits. There were problems with older equipment being suitable for enforcement of 20 mph speed limits. • Spids (Speed Indicator Displays ) – Temporary electronic signs showing the speed vehicles are travelling and smiling or frowning faces as appropriate • Community Road Watch: Volunteers work with police officers and conduct speed checks at locations where speeding has been highlighted as a community concern. This scheme is educational and offending motorists are sent warning letters by the volunteers. School Road Watch is a similar scheme that use school pupils

Councillor Fillis stressed the need for evidence based approach focusing on sites with a high accident rate. £500,000 had been allocated to schemes to reduce accidents in 2015/16 and a further £500,000 for schemes to reduce accidents to cyclists. However he underlined that slower speeds result in fewer and less severe accidents

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Road safety issues, including 20 mph speed limits are dealt with a recent report to the Scrutiny Committee http://council.lancashire.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=120&MId=3989&Ver =4 4. Pavement It was noted that Guide Dog for the Blind are currently supporting a private Parking members bill to make pavement parking illegal. It is currently illegal to drive on or obstruct a footway. Members of the forum were supportive of the bill. 5. Overview of Alasdair Simpson gave an overview of cycling in Lancashire Cycling in Lancashire Current proposed schemes included (Alasdair Simpson) West Lancashire a) Tawd Valley Cycleway, Skelmersdale (Barry Nolan Way): This was a new north- south cycle route in Skelmersdale linking to the town centre, high schools, and industrial estate. It was named after Barry Nolan, a former councillor who had campaigned for better access to the Tawd Valley Park and better cycle facilities. The cycle path should be built in 2016/17 b) Ormskirk – Burscough Linear Park: This followed a long linear field adjacent to the railway line. The first stage would be likely to be built through a new housing development, which had recently applied for planning permission c) Ormskirk Town Centre – Edgehill University: The scheme which should go ahead in summer 2016 should lead to more people cycling to the University Preston and Central Lancashire a) Preston Station Cycle Hub: This included cycle parking for 200, new cycle shop and cycle repairs. Virgin were receiving £765,000 grant from the Government to build it. The hub should be open in summer 2016 b) Cycle Path into Railway Station / Fishergate from south side of river: subject to final negotiations with Network Rail, this scheme should be complete late 2016 / early 2017. The scheme should lead to more people cycling into the centre c) Developer funding: There was a lot of developer funding for cycle routes Preston and Cottam and Longridge d) A582 improvements: The scheme included improvements to crossing facilities at junctions making it easier to cycle from Preston to Leyland and a cycle path along the road from Penwortham to Bamber Bridge and Leyland e) Leyland Loop– Proposed circular route round Leyland linking to schools, Lancashire Business Park and Runshaw College East Lancashire a) East Lancashire Cycle Network The first phase is made out of 4 schemes • Valley of Stone Greenway (Rawstenstall – Rochdale) • Route 6 (Accrington – Ramsbottom) • Huncoat Greenway • Blackburn Weavers Wheel The project is funded by £2.6 m from the Government's Growth Deal matched by £3.0m from Lancashire County Council and £0.25m from Blackburn over 4 years. Plans can be downloaded from http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/council/strategies- policies-plans/roads,-parking-and-travel/major-transport-schemes/east-lancashire- strategic-cycleway-network.aspx b) Burnley – Pendle Growth Corridor: This project is also funded by the Government's Growth Deal. It includes proposals to improve motorway and key junctions in the area to reduce congestion and help economic growth in the area. It includes proposals to improve cycle facilities at junctions making it easier to cycle in the area.

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Fylde and Wyre a) A585 – Highways England are looking at installing a cycle path along the road from Fleetwood to Little Singleton and improvements for cyclists on the Fylde section. The road was a trunk road and the responsibility of Highways England. Highways England had a 4 year programme of improving cycle facilities. The road acts as a barrier to east – west cycle trips in the area and the few other alternative north – south cycle routes in the area b) Kirkham Western Bypass – There was developer funding to put a cycle path on the road c) Highways and Transport Master Plan included proposals for completing the cycle route along the coast Lancaster. Lancaster a) Heysham M6 has an off road cycle path along its full length opening the door to new cycle journey possibilities b) Lancaster East – There was developer funding for cycle facilities on the east side of Lancaster c) The Bay Cycleway won the Lancashire Tourism Award for the Best Visitor Experience d) The draft Highways and Transport Plan includes proposals for a cycle route from Lancaster to Heysham and improving the A6 University Corridor Cycle Flow trends Data from counters from cycle tracks suggested a 10.5% increase in cycle use in 2013 and 13.5% in 2014, though growth in cycle use on road was probably less. Based on current trends and schemes in the programme cycle use in Lancashire was lightly to double by 2015. Cycle flows across the in the centre of Lancaster are now more double than prior to the opening of the Millennium Bridge in 2001.

Nationally cycle use on road was 6.5% higher in 2014 than in 2010 and 28% higher than in 1995, though a lot of cycle use is also now on off road tracks. The greatest growth in cycle use was on rural minor roads. Billion cycle miles 1995 2000 2005 2010 2014 Rural A roads 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 Urban A roads 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 Rural minor roads 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.7 0.9 Urban minor roads 1.4 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.8 Total 2.5 2.6 2.7 3.0 3.2 The National Travel Survey suggested that the miles travelled by bicycle per person in 2014 was 45% higher than in 2005.

Cycle causality trends: Lancashire 1995 – 2005 – 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 1999 2009 Average Average KSI 60 75 76 71 73 103 119 Slight 417 263 297 301 314 277 291 All 477 338 373 373 387 380 410 Serious injury = injury requiring an overnight stay in hospital

Though total cycle causalities are lower than in the late 1990s, KSI (Killed and Seriously Injured) were 98% higher in 2014. One reason may be that there is more cycling on rural roads than in the past. On rural roads speeds tend to be higher and accidents more serious. Slight injuries may have declined as there are fewer children cycling, more traffic calming and 20 mph zones and there are more cycle facilities.

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6. Examples where Matthew Hodges did a presentation showing examples where the needs of the needs of cyclists and pedestrians had not been fully taking into account. These included vulnerable road • Hedges overhanging the footway forcing pedestrian to walk into the user had not been footway: Though Councils had the power to make people cut back taken into account hedges or recover the cost of doing so, this was difficult to put into (Matthew Hodges) practise, especially the owner of the hedge is unknown • Gullies not been cleaned out causing puddling that resulted in cyclists and pedestrians being splashed by passing vehicles • Cycle lanes being installed at less than 1.5 metre recommended width • The cycle path crossing at the A583 / A584 junction, which had been put in the early 1990s at Lea Gate which had poor visibility for cyclists crossing from Preston to Blackpool • The cycle path on west side of the A6 south of the M55 roundabout was narrow and cluttered with street furniture. (Highways England will be asked to look at this as part of the feasibility study of possible improvements for cyclists at the motorway junction) He also commented on the design of the Broughton bypass • At the northern roundabout he felt that visibility was inadequate for cyclists and pedestrians crossing the bypass arm from the north. (Postscript: The fence line will be moved back to improve visibility) • The farm subway should have been open to cyclists. It was not possible to include this at this stage as work in the bypass was due to start in January. • At the Whittingham Road Roundabout there should be a toucan crossing on the south side as well as the north side as it will difficult to cross at peak times. The toucan crossing was provided on the north side as there is a footway on this side of the road, but not on the south side • He questioned if the central reserve at the toucan crossing at the south end of the bypass was large enough to hold the number of people crossing on the Guild Wheel at peak times. He felt that it should be astraight across crossing. He felt that cyclists should have been consulted on the Broughton Bypass at an earlier date

Steve Carson stressed that he found many central islands do not have enough width to accommodate a cycle pulling a trailer.

Robin Field felt that there was a need for more training for engineers in designing for cyclists and that consideration should be given to the County Council adopting the London Cycle Design Standards https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/publications-and-reports/cycling (it is not immediately obvious on the webpage) Sustrans' Draft Design Manual is also quite good http://www.sustrans.org.uk/our-services/infrastructure/route-design- resources/documents-and-drawings/key-reference-documents

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7. Consultation At present as well as the County Cycle Liaison meeting, there were cycle forums in most districts. There was also a regular cycle design meeting to discuss the design of individual schemes. Cycling Groups were consulted on all traffic regulation orders and new road schemes. With cutbacks in Council spending the Council may need to reduce consultation with cyclist groups in the future 8. Preston Guild The north side of Preston Guild Wheel is affected by new developments and roads. Wheel There is a facebook petition calling for the integrity of the Guild Wheel to be maintained. It was stressed that the County Council wanted to maintain the integrity of the Guild Wheel, ensuring that it remained a high quality route and ensure that people living in the new developments had access to it.

A new junction has been put in serving the first stage of a development off Lightfoot Lane and Tabley Lane. Priorities have been changed with Lightfoot Lane which is used by the Guild Wheel giving way to the access into the development. The development was allowed after a planning appeal. When the development is fully complete the main access will be via the new east- west link road and a roundabout on Tabley Lane. Lightfoot Lane would be closed at both ends keeping it a quiet road.

There was a development on Sandiforth Lane, which had yet to get planning permission. The Guild Wheel would then crossed the proposed east – west link road, probably on a toucan crossing.

Following on from the Broughton Bypass scheme there would a new cycle path on the west side of the old A6 segregated from the footway and carriageway. The Guild Wheel would cross the bypass on a toucan crossing. The Guild Wheel would be kept open at all times during the bypass works. There would be a new cycle path on Durton Lane under the M55 bridge. When the bypass was complete in 2017 Durton Lane would be closed at its east end preventing it uses by through traffic.

There was a Home and Communities Agency development on the south side of Durton Lane, which included a link road from Durton Lane to Eastway.

The planning application for the development on the north side of Durton Lane, which have been refused in July due to concerns about the effect of increased traffic on the Guild Wheel. Because Durton Lane is due to be closed to through traffic if development goes ahead, traffic volumes on Durton Lane would be less than at present. The number of construction vehicles would be limited to 10 a day.

Peter Ward emphasised strongly the need to keep the Guild Wheel maintained and 6

ensure that it was unaffected by the new developments.

9. Examples of good Deferred to the next meeting. practise In the meantime the below videos on traffic signal design might be of interest (Robin Field) • Dutch practise in designing for cyclists at traffic signal junctions http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlApbxLz6pA • Cyclist early start at traffic signals in London https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDYbhxbl0hQ • Cyclist two stage right turn https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AOWm-yKey8

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