Cycling Action Plan for Nottingham. Towards creating a more cycle friendly city October 2012

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1 Cycling Action Plan for Nottingham Towards creating a more cycle friendly city October 2012

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3 3 Contents 4. Foreword Supporting Partners 5. Introduction Why we have produced this plan 6. The Benefits 7. What will a cycle-friendly Nottingham look like? Target 8. Nottingham Ucycle 10. How will we achieve these aims? 14. Building a safe cycling City Maintaining our cycle facilities 15. Engaging with citizens 16. How will we make this Cycle Action Plan a reality? 18. Looking towards the future Feedback

4 4 Foreword - Councillor Collins - Leader of Nottingham City Council Supporting Partners Nottingham has a great cycling heritage, as the birth place of one of the world s most famous cycling manufacturers, Raleigh. This plan is launched in the year that has seen Britain host the Olympics and British Success in the Tour De France. Nottingham has also played its part and has seen some of the world s top cyclists ride through our streets as we hosted an opening leg of the Tour of Britain. There has also been plenty for the non professional cyclists amongst us. Following the successful launch of EON Cycle Live, we will continue to provide the weekend of activities, catering for the competitive amongst us, families and those just looking to get back on their bike. Of course we also need to ensure that the roads and paths are suitable for those of us who cycle as part of our daily lives and we also need to address the reasons as to why some people, who would like to cycle, do not. It is for all these reasons that we have updated our Cycle Action Plan. This plan is bold. We will deliver on our commitment to make our roads a better place for cyclists. We will give cyclists better priority on our main routes as well as reduce speeds to 20mph in residential areas. I want people to be able to get to work quickly and safely on our roads by bike, for cycling to be a daily activity allowing people to get around and for many more people to be able to enjoy cycling in our City. I look forward to seeing the benefits this plan will bring to our City. Towards creating a cycle friendly City and community Cycle Development Group (CDG) Sustrans Pedals CTC Ridewise British Cycling Nottinghamshire County Council Neighbouring districts, boroughs, Derbyshire County Council Nottinghamshire Police GNTP East Midlands Trains NCT Trent Barton NET Nottingham Primary Care Trust Perfect Motion Cycling Trade One Nottingham Framework University of Nottingham Nottingham Trent University Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust We would also welcome engagement with any other interest group, environmental groups and all past and future Cycle Forum attendees.

5 5 Introduction Why we have produced this plan The popularity and focus on cycling is increasing, as more and more people start to understand its full potential as a means of getting around. The cost of petrol is going to keep rising and as people look for alternatives to the car they will also contribute towards building a healthier city, help to reduce carbon emissions, manage air quality and aid economic growth. It is therefore essential that Nottingham City Council continues to strongly support the cycling agenda, and this support is reflected within the Council Plan, the City s Local Transport Plan and also within this Cycling Action Plan Work to improve cycling conditions and increase cycling numbers is already well underway. The first Cycling Action Plan was in place between 2008 and Key achievements include: The start of an extensive programme of investment to create a network of on-road cycle corridors A commitment to improve on road cycle facilities A commitment to deliver 20mph zones in residential areas The Nottingham Ucycle project Successful Local Sustainable Transport Fund (LSTF) bid Provision of an annual budget for small scale improvements Improvements to off road and leisure routes including the Big Track and alongside the River Leen Strong partnership working through the Cycle Development Group (CDG) and Nottingham Ucycle A trial of cycle parking at transport interchanges Bikeability training delivered to just over 50% of City primary schools A strong commitment to cycling from Councillors and Colleagues An increase in cycling in excess of 17% over the course of the Action Plan Widespread cycle parking including the roll out of smart card accessed facilities Leading bike magazine Cycle Plus voted Nottingham the second best city to cycle in, behind Bristol who were awarded Cycle City funding. This work provides a strong and successful base to build on. Cycle numbers are on the up and this increase will continue with the introduction of a Work Place Parking Levy (WPL) in the City. It is therefore right and essential that we ensure the best possible conditions for those who choose to cycle. The number of cyclists in Nottingham is increasing - with more and more journeys taking place on bikes. Citizens are becoming more aware of the benefits of cycling and research from organisations such as the British Heart Foundation and Sustrans show the benefits that cycling can have on standards of living. We want to build on the positive improvements that have happened so far to help and encourage more people to take up cycling for their commute, leisure and everyday short journeys. Examples of aerobic activities include brisk walking, cycling or swimming. Aerobic activity is the best type of activity to improve the health of your heart and reduce the risk of coronary heart disease 1. In a time of significant public health challenges, and with increasing pressure on finances, the evidence and advice is clear - commissioning services that enable people to walk and cycle more for everyday journeys offers value-for-money solutions to help improve the nation s health and well-being 2. Great advancements have already been made, the number of people cycling in the City increased by 17% from However a large proportion of this increase was from This would hopefully show the measures are gaining momentum and if this is maintained we will continue to make noticeable increases in the numbers of people cycling. There are many things that we can do to encourage a cycling culture in Nottingham - cyclists need to benefit from good cycle facilities both on the road and at their destination as well as information on routes. We recognise there is still plenty for us to do before Nottingham can be considered truly cycle friendly. Despite constrained public funding, cycling offers very good value for money and there is great potential for further development of our cycling provisions in Nottingham. Because of this we have updated the Cycle Action Plan to explain what will be going ahead and how we are going to go about it. 1 British Heart Foundation publications Get Active, stay active 2 Sustrans Promoting health through active travel

6 6 The Benefits Supporting the Economy Bikes are efficient, economic and flexible and you do not have to be extremely fit to benefit from quicker journey times. If everyone was to cycle at least a few journeys then it would help free up the roads for when you need to use the car, helping to keep Nottingham moving. Cycling also increases access to employment and training opportunities. A Better Environment We all care about the environment, as it directly impacts upon our lives now and in the future. Getting on a bike is one way that you can make a positive step towards reducing pollution and cutting greenhouse gas emissions which cause global warming. Improved Safety By getting more people cycling other road users will become more aware of their presence. As a result of cycling on a regular basis - when we need to use a car we will have greater awareness of how to share the road with a cyclist. This will help create a safer environment for all transport users.

7 7 What will a cycle - friendly Nottingham look like? As we move towards an increasingly normalised and integrated cycling culture, we think that a cycle friendly Nottingham is a city where: Cycling is seen by more people as a normal and enjoyable transport choice There is respect between all road users It is safe to cycle in There are suitable levels of secure parking and a reduction in cycle theft Cycling is fully embedded into planning and transport thinking Investment is made in new cycle infrastructure Existing facilities are well maintained and fit for purpose Partners work together and collaborate to maximise their impact Cycling is integrated with other transport modes. Healthier Lifestyles Cycling will benefit you both mentally and physically. Exercise reduces the risks of a wide range of illnesses including heart problems and diabetes. Cycling can be accommodated into your day, by cycling to work you get exercise without having to make time for it, you might even find the journey is quicker and you get more time to do other things! Makes Financial Sense The economy is struggling and fuel prices are rising. You might need to fuel yourself with a bit more food but it is certainly a lot cheaper than a trip to the petrol pump. You will also find you have more energy and you can get more done in the day. Work carried out through the Cycle Action Plan will be heavily supported by the Local Sustainable Transport Fund (LSTF). By creating a cycle friendly city, cycling will become a natural part of our communities and will become a natural lifestyle choice for our Citizens. A programme of measures developed through the LSTF will create a cohesive way of promoting cycling within communities by providing a range of activities and services for all ages. It will encourage family involvement to increase the uptake of cycling in schools. This programme will be complemented by a package of cycle support which would be provided directly to businesses. Target We are aiming to increase cycling numbers across the City by 50% from 2010 levels by In addition we will monitor the effectiveness of key high profile schemes such as Ucycle and the Citycard bike club. Certain monitoring will be carried out in coordination with Sustrans and other partner organisations.

8 8 Case Study: Nottingham Ucycle Nottingham Ucycle is a leading project, which started during the first Cycle Action Plan. It has helped provide a strong lasting partnership with Sustrans, the Greater Nottingham Transport Partnership, Nottingham University, Nottingham Trent University and Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust. Ucycle promotes active travel to staff and students at the partner sites. Since its September 2009 launch, Ucycle has successfully implemented a range of activities including infrastructure improvements on and between campuses, free cycle training, bike maintenance workshops and activities to raise awareness of the benefits of cycling, as well as the largest cycle loan scheme of its kind, with over 460 bikes hired to staff and students. The scheme has been a resounding success and will continue with the existing partners coupled with expansion into the Further Education sector, through funding from the LSTF.

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10 10 How will we achieve these aims? Extensive and detailed plans are in place for improvements to our cycle infrastructure, as well as enhanced communications and integration with the sustainable transport network. For experienced cyclists we will: Provide a high quality branded network of on road radial and orbital routes Ensure there are good clear to follow routes through the City Centre Work with the County Council and Boroughs to ensure continuity of routes beyond the City boundary Continue routes safely through junctions Where a facility is provided off the carriageway, we will aim to provide the cycle route with priority over side roads Increase the amount of Advanced Stop Lines (ASLs) and wherever possible cycle lanes will feed into them, potentially taking road space from general traffic Provide secure, smart card accessed parking at key locations and interchanges Ensure that large scale transport schemes and developments provide improvements for cyclists Work with bus, taxi, tram and fleet operators to increase their awareness of cyclists and cycle facilities Support experienced cyclists and volunteers who wish to be community advocates for cycling and develop a Cycling Champions network. Case Study: Nottingham s Commuter Cycle Corridors Since the Cycle Action Plan was put in place in 2008, 750k has been spent through the Local Transport Plan on the implementation of on-road corridor cycle facilities. This investment has seen improvements for cyclists to and from the City Centre along Hucknall Road, to Strelley and Clifton. This funding has also been complemented by additional external grants, which have allowed Wollaton Road to be addressed. This has been a positive start. Route audits, allowing early input from cycle groups such as Pedals and Sustrans have provided useful feedback from their local members with specific knowledge on local conditions and areas that need to be improved for cyclists. This work has identified that improving conditions for cyclists through junctions is one of the key areas that require further attention. This is an area we will address within this new Cycle Action Plan as we look to create a programme of junction improvements for cyclists. This work will examine improvements made to London s high profile cycle corridors closely, with special consideration to emerging safety recommendations. For child cyclists we will: Expand provision of Bikeability and Life Cycle - safety related learning to more primary schools Provide safety zones and safer routes around schools Linked to LSTF - pilot Bike It cycle promotion programme within secondary schools Through LSTF - create a community involvement and Active Families programme. The City Council s Road Safety Team has worked with Ridewise since 2008 to deliver cycle training in schools. The Lifecycle programme has been designed to complement the Bikeability programme by providing curriculum activities that focus on cycling as a transport mode and prepare children for Bikeability training from Year 5 onwards. A Lifecycle pilot is planned for 5 city schools starting in April 2012 and will run for around 3 months. This will then be evaluated during 2012 and if successful it will be rolled out further through the Local Sustainable Transport Fund.

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12 12 For new cyclists or people rediscovering cycling we will: Continue and expand the Nottingham Ucycle scheme to include the Further Education sector ensuring the college and University students who may be new to the City are well equipped to cycle Provide paper mapping to help people find the best route for their cycling ability and develop our electronic mapping to provide new layers with additional information Introduce a programme of 20mph zones covering residential areas, which will be incrementally rolled out across the City Through LSTF Deliver a community cycling programme Improve permeability within the neighbourhoods to ensure cycling is a quick and safe travel choice for short local journeys, provides easy access to the commuter corridors and supports interchange with other modes Provide secure parking and bike hire integrated into the Citycard smart card system Engage with the business sector to promote cycling to employees Engage with the Health sector to embed Active Travel into their way of thinking Find out what people see as their barriers to cycling. For recreational cyclists we will: Make further improvements to the River Leen route, enhancing connections between the Big Track and Mill Lakes Improve links from the City to wider routes such as the Erewash Valley Trail Work with partners to continue to promote, extend and improve links to the Big Track Work with Sustrans and Nottinghamshire County Council to seek opportunities to improve the National Cycle Network (NCN) Route 6 and implement NCN 15 Through LSTF we will invest in communities and enable Active Families. Case Study: Broadmarsh - Bike Hub The Broadmarsh Bus Station is the first of many new secure cycle parking and hire hubs, which will be accessed with a Citycard smart card, when registered to the Citycard Bike Club. The full scheme will enhance the links between public transport interchange points and employment sites and offer Citizens more travel choices. A network of cycle parking and hire hubs will be installed at key sites around the City. The secure parking area can only be accessed from the Citycard smart card system which is free to obtain for anyone who registers. This approach will be rolled out to other transport interchange locations around the City including railway stations and park and ride sites. Case Study: River Leen The River Leen runs right through the heart of the City, connecting Mill Lakes in Ashfield to the north and the Trent in the south. This provides an excellent opportunity to create an off road sustainable transport corridor. With this in mind the City Council produced the River Leen Access and Bio-diversity Strategy, which identified a wide range of improvements, which could be implemented to open up the river corridor to walkers and cyclists, whilst also enhancing habitat and species along the route. The ultimate aim for this route is to move the City s section of the National Cycle Network (NCN6) onto both the River Leen and the River Trent - and we will continue to work with partners to gain funding and support for the required works that are necessary to complete this.

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14 14 Maintaining our cycle facilities Maintenance is a key priority for cyclists - badly maintained roads are dangerous and can cause damage to bikes and cycle markings must be kept clear to ensure that the benefits they provide are not lost. It is also important that off-road routes are well maintained with particular care and attention to ensure vegetation is cut back. The work in this plan will increase the amount of cycle provision and therefore the amount of maintenance required. We will however ensure the correct procedures are in place to allow this to happen. Both on and off road cycle routes will be regularly inspected and when work is required it will be carried out promptly. We will also respond to requests made via the on line forms to problems identified by cyclists - these channels will be communicated widely to ensure people are aware of the mechanisms that are available to highlight issues with infrastructure such as: Worn away on road markings Pot holes Missing signs Off road vegetation encroachment. Building a safe cycling city To help build a safe city to cycle in we will: Work towards the Council Plan commitment of citywide 20mph areas Work with the Police to achieve better speed enforcement Work with Ridewise to improve cycle skills amongst children and adults Work with transport operators and fleet managers to improve driver skills and awareness around cyclists and cycle facilities Campaign to discourage pavement cycling Ensure cyclists are aware of how to cycle around the tram and where possible provide alternatives to avoid the tracks Ensure the correct balance of need is applied when providing facilities for pedestrians with conflicting safety issues Work with Sustrans through their Community Advocacy work Maintain roads to ensure good safe road surfaces Engage with national guidance and campaigns and implement best practice where appropriate. In addition, where a maintenance scheme is taking place we will ensure that cycle facilities are considered in conjunction with the maintenance work, to make the most of potential savings. How do we monitor cycling activity? Between 2008 and 2011 the number of automatic cycle counters around the city has greatly increased - these automatic cycle counters improve the way that we monitor cycling figures and allow us to collect and analyse robust data on key routes about the number of people moving around our city by bike. We will monitor the effectiveness of key high profile schemes such as the Nottingham Ucycle project and the Citycard Bike Club and monitoring will be carried out in coordination with Sustrans and other partner organisations. LSTF cycle schemes will also undergo rigorous monitoring to scrutinise specific cycle rates within neighbourhood areas.

15 15 Engaging with citizens Effective communication and support is vital to encourage new and existing cyclists to make the most of the network and the advantages that cycling can offer. Promotion needs be extensive and varied to meet the requirements of different audiences and their needs. There will be a targeted communication approach towards people who are currently not cycling but who can be influenced. We will also use events as an opportunity to engage with existing cyclists and to create two-way channels to gather feedback to improve cycling conditions. A variety of events and activities will take place locally and nationally which will raise the profile of cycling: The EON Cycle Live weekend Rural Rides Olympics and a high profile successful British Cycling Team Bike Week In Town Without my Car Cycle for Health rides LSTF community events to influence people who are not already cyclists Summer of Cycling. Case Study: EON Cycle Live For the last 30 years the annual Great Notts Bike Ride has successfully taken place. This has developed and evolved to provide rides for thousands of people and families of varying cycling experience and fitness has seen the event evolve into EON Cycle Live, which was even bigger and better than before, with a whole weekend of activities all focused around cycling. By working with Perfect Motion, The Big Wheel, Nottinghamshire County Council and British Cycling we were able to stage the event which included: Nottingham Cycling School Challenge Nottingham Elite Criterium Series Nottingham Cycling Show Nottingham City Ride The Great Nottinghamshire Bike Ride. The activities allowed everyone to get involved from riding in an elite race, getting out with the family, or watching thousands of cyclists around the City.

16 16 How will we make this Cycle Action Plan a reality? There is widespread support for these proposals, but in order to deliver what is necessary to achieve a cycle friendly city where more people view cycling as a real transport choice, funding needs to be in place with a commitment to a rolling programme of improvements. Funding will come from a variety of sources including: The Local Transport Plan Local Sustainable Transport Fund Capitalising on other schemes and developments A range of funding secured through external grant opportunities Working with partners and businesses Sponsorship. Meeting the Target A 50% increase in cycling across the City is ambitious but it can be achieved if we act now and target trips that can easily be made by bike, but are currently being made by other modes. There are many areas that can contribute towards this target and we must ensure we maximise their full potential. Over the course of the plan we will: Invest over 1 million directly into cycle corridors Roll out 20mph zones throughout the City Aim to increase the level of cycling whilst maintaining the same level of cycle related road accidents 300,000 Citycards will be distributed, all with the option for secure cycle parking Establish five community travel hubs each with a neighbourhood travel coordinator which will engage directly with at least 55,000 citizens over the plan period Pilot a citywide cycle hire scheme - starting with 100 bikes Provide at least 7 City card activated parking areas at transport interchanges and key locations including bus based park and ride, new tram park and rides and rail stations, including Nottingham Rail Station Provide a weekend of activities through EON Cycle Live At least 9,000 children engaged in cycle training activities (Life Cycle, Bikeability and Bike It) The introduction of a Bike to Work scheme which will incorporate training, cycle loan and the options to then own the bike Provide one on one cycle training to 600 adults through RideWise Reduce cycle thefts - even with an increase in cycle numbers Develop a network of 50 community cycle champions Develop an interactive on-line cycle map Continue and expand the Nottingham Ucycle project to the Nottingham s Colleges Contribute to the Decade of Better Health target to achieve 10% of citizens (28,000) who have increased their physical activity Ensure a 100% response rate to cycle related issues raised via on line forms Engage with all bus, tram and major fleet operators in the City on issues of driver behaviour around cyclists and cycle facilities. The plan will also support the Local Sustainable Transport Fund aims, which will be delivered by 2014/15 by: Increasing sustainable travel modal share by 10% Reducing the carbon emissions from transport by 10% over three years Engaging with up to 180,000 people (20% of the urban population) on sustainable travel through community hubs and smarter travel events Doubling levels of cycling in intervention areas from 2011 levels Supporting approximately 9,500 individuals to participate in the local labour market Providing personalised travel planning solutions to over 32,000 individuals through targeted programmes.

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18 18 Looking towards the future The future for cycling in our City is a bright and vibrant one - where cycling networks are high quality, well used and well recognised. It s a city where cycle is a normal and accepted mode of transport and is integrated with the rest of the sustainable transport network. It s a future that sees improvements in the health of our residents - supported by a lifestyle that incorporates active travel. It s a future that sees a reduction in congestion as car drivers undertake a modal shift for short journeys. And, it s a future that allows residents to enjoy cycling around our City knowing that it is safe and well maintained with a range of cycle corridors that help them to get to where they want to be and secure parking for when they arrive at their destination. It s a future that invests and prioritises cycling and that encourages the commuters of tomorrow to consider alternatives to the car. We feel our ambitions are stretching but they are achievable through a well-balanced and managed Cycle Action Plan - and through effective work with our partners. If you d like to be involved or to find out more then visit Or to download more detail. Feedback This Action Plan has been written for the benefit of everyone in Nottingham. We would therefore like to hear your views on the ideas put forward. We would also benefit from any ideas and local knowledge you have. Please send any comments on the plan or cycling in Nottingham to: Transport.strategy@nottinghamcity.gov.uk or call:

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