Cycling Strategy for Milton Keynes
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Highways & Transportation Group Cycling Strategy for Milton Keynes Consultation Responses Annex www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/cycling-strategy March 2013 1 of 138 | Milton Keynes Council | 2013 This document has been prepared by Milton Keynes Council For further information please contact: Milton Keynes Council Transport Policy & Programme Civic Offices 1 Saxon Gate East Central Milton Keynes MK9 3EJ Tel: 01908 252561 Fax: 01908 254212 Email: [email protected] Web: www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/cycling-strategy 2 of 138 | Milton Keynes Council | 2013 Cycling Strategy March 2013 - Annex CONTENTS SUMMARY REPORT ON CONSULTATION RESPONSES .............................................................4 CONSULTATION SUMMARY OF RESPONSES..............................................................................7 CYCLING STRATEGY COMMENTS ................................................................................................7 MAINTENANCE ISSUES COMMENTS ..........................................................................................45 EXPANSION / CONNECTIONS COMMENTS ................................................................................58 WAYFINDING /SIGNAGE / INFORMATION COMMENTS.............................................................75 SAFETY ISSUES COMMENTS.......................................................................................................91 OTHER COMMENTS ....................................................................................................................108 3 of 138 | Milton Keynes Council | 2013 Cycling Strategy March 2013 - Annex Summary report on consultation responses The 12-week consultation for the draft cycling strategy ended on 6th January 2013 with a very large response rate. The reason for this high rate of response is due to extensive promotion of the consultation through the web site, press notices, invitation to organisations to respond via email, meetings, promotional brochures and fliers distributed around the borough through libraries and parish council offices. In total we received 100 consultation responses from individuals, cycling organisations, parish and town councils, stakeholder organisations and other departments of Milton Keynes Council. These responses comprise 376 individual comments. The breakdown of respondents was as follows: Individuals 71 Parish and Town Councils 11 Other organisations 11 Council departments 4 Cycling organisations 3 The individual comments were then grouped into the following themed categories: Strategy Maintenance of Redways Expansion / Connections / Links Signage / Wayfinding / Information Safety Issues Other Comments The comments were further broken down into specific areas of concern that the respondents raised. These are summarised below, together with the number of comments received on each topic. Strategy: 1. General support for the strategy 30 2. Promotion / Education /Marketing 7 3. Partnership working with organisations 5 4. Cycle Hire Scheme 4 5. Trip end facilities 3 6. Remove car driver advantages 3 7. Expand Redways 3 8. Remove barriers to cycling 2 9. Don’t support strategy 2 10. Increase funding 1 4 of 138 | Milton Keynes Council | 2013 Cycling Strategy March 2013 - Annex Maintenance: 1. General Maintenance 27 2. Debris 17 3. Vegetation 14 4. Lighting 15 5. Winter Maintenance 5 Maintenance comments also referred to hard-surfacing rural routes, rural maintenance, road maintenance, drainage, heated Redways and the Council’s ‘React’ system. Expansion / Connections / Links: 1. Rural Connections 11 2. Direct Routes 11 3. Expansion of Redways 10 4. Super Cycle Ways 6 5. Extend Redways in Towns 2 6. Trip end facilities 2 7. Improve crossings / junctions 1 Safety Issues: 1. Education on safe use of Redways 26 2. Crossing / junctions safety 10 3. Visibility /sharp bends 7 4. Security of bikes at stands 7 5. Reduce speed limit on estates 2 6. Cycling Training 3 7. Speed limit on Grid Roads 2 8. Make Grid roads safer for cyclists 1 9. Enforcement of offences 2 Signage / Wayfinding / Information: 1. Improve signage on Redways 39 2. Rules of Redways 13 3. On-line maps, route maps 19 4. Landmark, name Redway routes 5 5. Promotion /Education /Information 3 Other Comments: 1. Education /Promotion/Marketing 10 2. Improve facilities 15 3. Direct Routes / Super Cycle Ways 11 4. Other miscellaneous comments 20 5 of 138 | Milton Keynes Council | 2013 Cycling Strategy March 2013 - Annex Other comments also included; learning from other countries and towns; putting more resources into cycling; looking at speed limits; using planning conditions to favour cycling and provision of cycling facilities; giving more advantage to cycle users in favour of car users; re-designing crossings and junctions for improved safety. Some other comments were localised or site-specific regarding safety issues, maintenance, resurfacing, lighting, overgrown vegetation, safety at crossing and junctions, trip end facilities and security, rural expansion / connections. The key priorities emerging from all the comments raised by the respondents to increase cycle usage in the borough are (in no particular order): Improve general maintenance of the Redways Improve Signage / Wayfinding / Information Create Direct Routes / Express Cycle Ways Promotion / Marketing / Education / Rules of Redways Improve trip end facilities / security / cycle parking Expand Redways / Improve links and connections Improve safety at crossing and junctions Provide cycle training Remove barriers and give more advantage to cyclists Improve maps, on-line mapping and route planner We have also analysed the responses with a ‘RAG’ process (Red, Amber, Green). This revealed overwhelming support for the strategy: 92% of the comments were marked Green; meaning that the respondents either agreed with the strategy or placed further emphasis on the interventions already mentioned in the strategy. 4.3% were marked Amber; which were comments that did not disagree with the strategy, but had aspirations beyond the scope of the strategy. 3.7% were marked Red; which were those that the Council could not support as they would conflict with wider transport policy aspirations. The “Consultation Draft Cycling Strategy” was then modified in accordance with the following pages and republished as the “Draft Cycling Strategy” for adoption. Modifications to the strategy are highlighted in column 4 “Change to document”. 6 of 138 | Milton Keynes Council | 2013 Cycling Strategy March 2013 - Annex Consultation summary of responses Ref Cycling Strategy Council Response Change to document 1.1 Just a few comments regarding the cycling strategy – Comments noted. Leisure route length is 70km. Revise text Firstly, a couple of factual / grammatical corrections. There are 140km of leisure route – (not 60km as stated) – needs correcting on pp 3, 6 & 9. The first paragraph in sect 3 (p9) is the same as sect 3.6 (p12) 2.1 Just a thought, if we are going to encourage staff to use A feasibility study for a cycle hire scheme for Milton Keynes None these “Boris bikes” to get about on council business, will be carried out prior to implementation and health and how are we going to ensure they are fit for use, Under safety issues will be considered as part of that study. the provision and use of work equipment regs, the bikes would become work equipment and must therefore be satisfactorily maintained by the employer. This is I believe the reason the post office are withdrawing postal bikes 4.1 A few comments on your excellent document. Noted. This refers to physical activity, not specifically Revise text On page 9 paragraph two you talk about 150 minutes of cycling. The paragraph will be revised to read "…at least 30 cycling but omit to say in what period this should occur, minutes of exercise for 5 days per week..." is it in one week? 4.2 On page 11 you refer to Team MK and this is fine as Comment noted. Team MK was referenced as an example None they are by far the largest and most active cycling club of a local organisation. in the city, however there are other cycling organisations which deserve a mention such as Milton Keynes Cycling Association, the umbrella body primarily responsible for the extensive racing programme at MK Bowl Cycle Racing Circuit during the summer months covering veteran, children and senior competitions, the local branch of the Cyclists Touring Club (CTC), North Bucks Road Club, the oldest local cycling club, other clubs and teams include Phil Corley Cycles, Twenty3c, Roy Pink Cycles and Virgin Active. The above comment also refers to page 16. It helps to illustrate the vibrant cycling community which exists here already. 7 of 138 | Milton Keynes Council | 2013 Cycling Strategy March 2013 - Annex Ref Cycling Strategy Council Response Change to document 5.1 The overall conception is very persuasive, and if carried We constantly look at best practice from other towns and None out as well as this Summer's Olympic drive was, would countries. be truly inspiring. We could emulate the Netherlands, Beijing and other places where the bicycle is more a way of life, like Cambridge. Has any research been carried out into places like these where cycling is an every day transport mode? 5.3 Also, a great deal of money is being projected to make The procurement of all projects and services is carried out None the necessary changes, and I hope that these have all in accordance with the Council's rules and procedures. been put out to tender and scrutinised on return. 6.1