CYCLING Programmes include: Completion of LCN+ Local cycle schemes Cycle parking schemes Review of cycle accident locations Cycle training 5.9 Cycling Promoting cycling is a key part of national, London and Harrow’s transport strategy. It is part of the strategy to combat the growth in traffic congestion by increasing choice and providing alternatives to the car. Cycling also improves accessibility, is pollution free and beneficial to health. 5.9.1 Cycling is promoted by: • Providing cycle routes • Providing cycle parking facilities • Providing cycle training for children • Providing better cycle information and raising awareness of the benefits of cycling • Ensuring all new highway schemes are cycle friendly 5.9.2 Cycle audits The borough does ensure that cycling considerations are taken on board for all transport schemes. A new Technical Practice Notice has been produced to ensure that all engineers involved in scheme design are aware of the need to cater for cyclists. Contents of this notice are as follows: Good design practice requires that the effects of any new highway proposal, on all highway user groups, be considered to ensure that the proposals are of no detriment to any particular group and that, where possible, opportunities are taken to effect improvements for all user groups. Traditionally highway schemes have been tailored to the needs of drivers of motor vehicles and pedestrians but priorities have changed and it is becoming increasingly more important that the requirements of more sustainable modes of transport be considered. Principally the needs of alternatives to the private motorcar are important, for example public transport and cycling with increasing emphasis on walking. The following briefly outlines some suggestions for engineers developing proposals for schemes on the public highway. The notes are appropriate in respect of all transport modes and it is accepted that the design procedures of competent highway and traffic engineers will already include the audit of proposals to ensure the following objectives. The notes are prepared to highlight the relatively recent prioritisation of the needs of cyclists and the development of the local, London and national cycle network. The audit procedure of all and any highway scheme must ensure that: 1. All available opportunities to provide new cycling facilities are investigated and where possible provided as part of the scheme. This is particularly important when the parent project lies on part of the identified cycle network. 2. All available opportunities to improve existing cycling facilities are investigated and where possible implemented as part of the scheme. 3. All new proposals on the public highway are of no detriment to existing cycling facilities. 4. All other highway schemes are audited to ensure that the proposals have no detrimental effect on its use by cycles. The audit procedure should include an initial detailed discussion with the council’s cycling officer to ensure that all possibilities are examined and, where appropriate, on-going liaison as the proposals are developed. For general guidance reference should be made to the current edition of the Transport for London publication “London Cycling Design Standards” and in particular in respect of above practice note the Institution of Highways and Transportation publication “Guidelines for Cycle Audit and Cycle Review”. This practice note will be regularly reviewed in line with changing legislation and acquired knowledge. 5.9.3 The council’s key policies on cycling are: C.1 The council will promote, support and encourage the use of bicycles generally, and in particular for journeys to schools, workplaces and shops as a key element of the Strategy C.2 Given the inherent relative danger of cycling vis-à-vis other vehicular transport modes, the council will give priority to the safety issues of cycling when considering schemes C.3 The council will progressively develop a Borough-level network of cycle routes incorporating all LCN routes together with such additional routes and/or ‘spurs’ as will be necessary to serve all major generators / attractors of person-trips, such as town centres; schools/colleges; stations; libraries; parks; local shopping centres; sports centres; hospitals; and major work locations; and will undertake “cycle audits” at key stages of developing a cycle route C.4 The council will seek to achieve the highest practicable standards of cycling safety and convenience, by means of engineering design and sensitive implementation; wherever practicable, and depending on the specific characteristics of an individual cycle route or site, segregate cyclists from other vehicular and pedestrian traffic C.5 In considering individual schemes, the council will seek to provide both for the most direct routes for cycling between places and for the segregation of cyclists from other vehicular traffic by means, in priority order, of: • Fully segregated cycle tracks (from both vehicles and pedestrians) • Cycle tracks fully segregated from vehicular traffic but occupying a clearly delineated part of a footway • Mandatory cycle lanes on local or main roads • Cycle tracks in parks, available at all hours and only where such provision is not practicable consider: • Shared use of bus lanes • Cycle tracks in parks, during park opening hours, together with appropriate diversionary routes at other times • Advisory cycle lanes on local or main roads • Shared use of footways C.6 Where schemes are designed to permit car parking beside cycle tracks/lanes, the council will ensure, by appropriate design and implementation, that cyclists are not obliged to deviate from their ‘normal’ line of travel and are accommodated between the parked cars and the footway C.7 The council will ensure the progressive achievement and maintenance of a high quality of cycle route provision, as well as clear continuity and consistency in design; and will ensure that, wherever practicable, provision is designed and implemented to cater for tricycle and trailer use C.8 The council will give a high priority in its maintenance and other programmes affecting the road network to keeping cycle facilities available and in good condition C.9 In all future plans and when considering any transport and development proposals the council will give more priority to provision for non-motorised modes of travel including cycling on all local access roads C.10 The council will publish and distribute cycling leaflets and maps, in areas of the Borough, identifying the locations of designated cycle routes, barriers to use (including main roads) and main road crossings C.11 The council will use its powers and resources to provide secure and weather- protected cycle-parking at sites generating/attracting significant numbers of cycling trips – most particularly, at strategic interchanges and stations; and encourage other authorities with specific responsibilities within the Borough to do the same C.12 The council will use its powers as local planning authority to make planning permission for future development conditional upon the availability of an appropriate level of pedal cycle parking (see parking standards) and facilities such as showers and lockers and encourage provision of “cycle pools” C.13 In existing developments, the council will encourage employers to make provision for employees wishing to cycle to a similar standard to that it requires from new development including the provision of “cycle pools” C.14 The council will support schemes which make pedal cycles available for hire – possibly on the basis of an on-demand “take-here / leave-there” service C.15 The council will promote the recreational use of cycling – but give priority to its aim of increasing cycling as an alternative to car use. In addition, regarding cycle safety: RSCP2. Given the inherent relative danger of cycling vis-à-vis other vehicular transport modes, the council will give priority to the safety issues of cycling when considering all traffic and highway schemes. RSCP3. The council will seek to achieve the highest practicable standards of cycling safety and convenience, by means of engineering design and sensitive implementation; wherever practicable, and depending on the specific characteristics of an individual cycle route or site, segregate cyclists from other vehicular and pedestrian traffic. RSCP4. The council will provide children’s cycle training for Borough residents during the Easter, half term and summer holiday periods. RSCP5. Additional cycle training sessions will be arranged at middle and high schools that have benefited from TfL’s additional cycle parking facilities. Where possible these will be carried out within the school day. RSCP6. The council will investigate the use of external cycle training bodies to expand the facility to older children and also make training available to adults. 5.9.4 London Cycle Network + – Led by Camden Statement of Commitment to the London Cycle Network (LCN+) Policy Context The Mayor’s vision is to make London a city where people of all ages, abilities and cultures have the incentive, confidence and facilities to cycle whenever it suits them. Cycling is integral to the Mayor’s vision to develop London as an exemplary sustainable world city. The Mayor’s Transport Strategy (MTS) includes a commitment to prepare a plan to guide the development of cycling initiatives. To meet this commitment Transport for London published the London Cycling Action Plan (LCAP) in February 2004. LCAP includes a target increase in cycling of at least 80% by 2010, and 200% by 2020 when compared to year 2000 levels. LCAP sets out a balanced package of measures that will help achieve the Mayor’s vision and deliver all the economic, social and environmental benefits of an increase in cycling. Objective 1 in LCAP is to complete the delivery of the London Cycle Network+ (LCN+) by 2009/10. This is to be a 900 Km long network of strategic routes that will provide cyclists with fast, safe and comfortable conditions. This authority is committed to the implementation of LCN+ network links numbered 16, 19, 86, 87, 89 on land under its control as shown in the following map.