Churn Valley Cycle Group

Transcription

1 Churn Valley Cycle Group Survey of Residents June 2009 Introduction 1. Parish councillors representing parishes in the Churn Valley have expressed an interest in improving facilities for cyclists. The options proposed include provision of a segregated route along the A435 and/or providing a viable off-road route by improving the surface of the public right of way which follows the River Churn from Cirencester to North Cerney. 2. Following meetings between the representatives of the parishes, Cirencester Town Council, CDC and other interested parties, it was decided to carry out a simple survey to establish whether there was general interest in these options from Churn Valley residents. It was hoped that the outcome of the survey would confirm whether or not there was sufficient interest from the residents to justify continuing to explore the options, or whether the idea would receive little backing. Conduct of the Survey 3. A simple survey questionnaire was prepared and a pilot survey carried out in December 2008 to check that the questions were unambiguous, easily understood and produced usable results. Following the success of this pilot a few minor changes were made to the form. 4. It was decided that resources were insufficient to devise a statistically rigorous sample, but parish representatives would use local knowledge to compile lists of interviewees which would reflect the demography of each parish. Volunteers would then assist the interviewees to complete the forms, so as to ensure the results would be consistent. 5. The survey was carried out during April to early June A copy of the survey questionnaire is at attachment 1. Summary of Main Results 6. The total number of responses was 41, covering the villages of Rendcomb, Perott s Brook and Baunton. Residents of North Cerney had recently completed a survey covering similar material and it was therefore agreed not to ask this village to participate again. Of the responses, approximately 3 were returned from each of the adult age groups (19-40, 41-59, 60+) % of the interviewees owned or had access to a bicycle. A similar number said they used their bike a few times a month, mainly during the summer. Cycle use dropped significantly to about 2 during the winter months. 1

2 8. For local journeys, 95% of residents used a car; a similar proportion making their journeys either daily or several times a week. Reasons given for not using their bike more often were mainly: heavy traffic (78%); too hilly(39%) or risk of exposure to bad weather or night riding (37%) % of residents had experienced riding along the A435 within the last year or so. Approximately 8 (including those without direct experience) said that they perceived the A435 to be not very safe or very unsafe for cycle riding. A similar proportion said they perceived a cycle ride on the A435 to be unenjoyable or very unenjoyable. 10. Residents were asked if they would use a cycle friendly route if it existed, e.g. either a segregated route on the highway, an improved off-road route, or a mix of the two. Approximately 8 said they would use such a route either a few times a week or a few times a month, with approximately 8 saying they would use the route for leisure purposes or to improve fitness. 11. A more detailed breakdown of the results is given at Appendix A to this paper. 12. Conclusions and a decision on the way forward will be decided by the Committee after discussion of the survey results. Peter Moran Baunton Parish Council Cycle Survey Co-ordinator 2

3 Appendix A: Detailed Survey Results 1. About the interviewees: Total number of responses = 41 Total no of responses Total male responses Total Female responses % 12 41% Age Groups 35% 3 25% Age Groups 27% 29% 29% 2 15% Age Groups 1 7% 7% 5% Age< The spread of the responses populations. Home Location is believed to agree approximately with that of the village 20 Home Location Home Location 3

4 2. Bicycle Ownership and Use: Total owning or using a bike 29 71% Type of bike owned or used 14 Type of Bike Type of Bike Type Road MTB Hybrid Other 2 Some people owned more than one bike Other included a tandem, and a folding bike What time of year typically used Percentage of Respondents: Cycle Use by Time of Year Winter, 2 Autumn, 41% Summer, 71% Spring, 59% Spring Summer Autumn Winter 4

5 How often used within your riding season(s) How Often How Often Daily Few a wk Few a mth Rare 3. Local travel patterns: For a typical local journey, what mode of transport would you use (more than one mode could be selected) Bike, 1 M/C, 2% Walk, 24% Bus, 17% Bike Bus Car M/C Walk Car, 95% 5

6 For a typical local journey, what would be your usual destination(s) (more than one could be selected) Ciren 59% Other 12% Destination Dest-Rend 9% Bag N Cerney 5% Perrott'sB 4% Baunton Stratton 11% Dest-Rend N Cerney Bag Perrott'sB Bauntonn Stratton Ciren Other How frequently do you make a typical local journey % Frequency of Journey 51% 3 2 Frequency 1 Daily 5% 0 Few a wk Few a mth Rare Comment: Not surprisingly, most residents in these villages make frequent trips to Cirencester, mainly by car. A number of residents walk shorter distances or use the bus. Very few use a local journeys. bicycle for routine 6

7 4. Reasons for not using a bicycle for local journeys: Total wishing to ride their bike more often 32 78% Factors affecting bike use 9 Factors Affecting Lack of Bike Use Not Significant Strongly Disagree Disagree Agree Strongly Agree 1 traffic hills too long sweaty weather alone Security stolen Major factors are Heavy Traffic, Hills, Weather or Night Riding. This is more clearly shown in the chart below, which filters only those responses where the interviewee agreed or strongly agreed with the factor Factors Affecting Lack of Bike Use (filtered for agreement only) Agree Strongly Agree 7

8 5. Perceptions of A435: Number who have cycled along A % Perception of A435 as a safe route to ride Perception of A435 Safety 51% 37% 12% Safe FS OK NVS Unsafe A435 Safety NVS = Not Very Safe Includes responses from those who had not cycled along this route themselves Perception of A435 as an enjoyable route to ride Perception of A435 as an Enjoyable Ride 56% 22% 12% 1 A435 Enjoyment FE = Fairly Enjoyable; NVE = Not Very Enjoyable Includes responses from those who had not cycled along this route themselves. A number of responses said that it would be enjoyable if there were less traffic. 8

9 6. Intention to use any future cycle route improvements: Use of a segregated route along the A % Take-up of A435 Segregated Route 51% % 32% 1 A435 Segregated Road daily few a wk few a mth Rare Use of an improved off-road route (improve existing bridle path along River Churn) % Take-up of Off-Road Route 49% 37% 1 2% Churn daily few a wk few a mth Rare Off-road 9

10 Use of a combination route (part segregated, part improved existing bridle path along River Churn) % Take-up of Combination Route 54% 34% Combination 5% 2% Combi daily few a wk few a mth Rare Comment: In general, any of the improvements would be welcomed and used. 8 of interviewees would use the facilities a few times a week or a few times a month. Reasons for using the bike more frequently using an improved facility Reasons for Use of Cycle Route 76% 78% 49% 39% 2 12% 56% Environment = support improvements to the wider environment 10

11 7. Additional comments: Mayfield park [near Perrott s Brook]: has tourists and 10-15% cyclists Need Sunday bus service Support lower speed of traffic Would be a good idea to have better facilities to help tourism. A435 would be enjoyable with fewer cars. We need to encourage the younger generation. A cycle route to Kemble station would be good Recent changes to road layout at Stratton have made it more dangerous for cyclists If the routes were available we would use them as a family Would like it if the bridlepath was a rideable off-road route I am not an owner of a bike but if there was an improved path alongside the Churn then I would use this route more frequently for trips to Cirencester Too many potholes on road route I would welcome a cycle path which would encourage me to cycle more Happy to see a dedicated cycle route along the Churn as long as it did not impact the environment, i.e. not concrete slab Don't have a bike, but my kids do and I'm in favour of a cycle path Don't have a bike at the moment but would if there was a cycle path Don't like passing through herd of cows 11