Cycle Hereford launch Blueprint for Cycling

Herefordshire’s politicians are the key to unlocking the enormous benefits of cycling for the people of the county. Conditions for cyclists are a measure of Herefordshire Council’s commitment to fairness, safety and the environment. Cycle Hereford have published their Blueprint for what they think Politician ought to be promising to do about cycling and sustainable transport. Download a copy here or click on 'Read more' to see the whole document. CHBlueprintMarch07revA.pdf

MAKE HEREFORD THE PLACE TO CYCLE!

Cycle Hereford Blueprint for Cycling 2007*

Herefordshire’s politicians are the key to unlocking the enormous benefits of cycling for the
people of the county. Conditions for cyclists are a measure of Herefordshire Council’s
commitment to fairness, safety and the environment.

WHY CYCLE?
Did you know:
• cycling is the most efficient way to get around for trips under 5 miles?
• you can cycle across Hereford in around 25 minutes?
• cycling for 30 minutes a day will help to keep you healthy?
• Herefordshire’s glorious countryside is only a 15 minute cycle ride from the city centre?
Cycling has a huge range of wider benefits. Cycling
• is safer than motorised travel for all other road users
• protects the local environment from noise and pollution
• requires a fraction of the space needed by motor vehicles both for moving and storage
• conserves irreplaceable fossil fuel resources
• emits no carbon dioxide, the primary greenhouse gas
Cycling could slow down global warming if it was given more attention in the transport
system. It could replace the car for many shorter trips (over 1 mile and under 5 miles). A
significant shift to cycling could ease Hereford’s congestion problems.

CYCLING IN THE REAL WORLD
To secure these benefits, conditions for cycling must be improved. This means:
• reducing the intimidating effects of traffic
• treating cyclists fairly in managing available roadspace
• raising the status of cycling as a desirable activity that normal people of all ages and
abilities can do
• increasing understanding and respect between all road users
All travellers need routes that are safe, convenient, direct and comfortable. This is especially
the case for those who use their own energy to get around. Cycling is discouraged by the
priority that is given to motorised traffic, regardless of the type of road or its location. It is time
to ensure that use and management of the road network does not actively discriminate
against self-powered road users.

WHAT POLITICIANS SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTING IF THEY ARE SINCERE ABOUT
CYCLING AND SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT
1. Lower speed limits A maximum speed limit of 20mph should be introduced on all streets
in Hereford where people are more important than motor vehicles. Full width cycle lanes for
travel in both directions should be introduced on streets where higher speed limits are
retained. The direct, radial routes into the city centre should be a primary focus for ensuring
the safety of cyclists through speed management or the reallocation of roadspace.
2. Law enforcement In the interim period, there should be much stricter enforcement of the
existing speed limits. In the longer term the support of the police will be required from time to
time to enforce lower speed limits and to keep cycle lanes free of parked cars. We deplore a
situation in which pavement cycling is treated as more dangerous and anti-social than
speeding which really is dangerous and which frightens cyclists off the roads.
3. High quality cycle parking Cycle parking should be available at all public buildings,
health facilities, shops and offices. There should be a policy to provide secure cycle storage
in residential areas.
4. Communication Direct promotional activities by the Council should focus on
• raising driver awareness of cyclists needs and rights,
• reminding all road users of the highway code and law
• raising general awareness of the benefits of cycling and
• announcing and explaining the reason for and correct use of new cycle infrastructure
such as contraflows, new off road routes, etc.
These policies are consistent with the five movement principles adopted by Herefordshire
Council’s Pedestrian, Access and Cycle Forum, of which Cycle Hereford is a member:
1. Making our streets vibrant and friendly by giving priority to people over traffic wherever
possible.
2. Sharing roadspace in a way which always considers the needs of all road users in order of
their vulnerability and sustainability. This puts the pedestrian first, followed by people with
disabilities, cyclists, public transport and then other motorised traffic. Where insufficient
space is available, speeds must be reduced or motorised traffic excluded to create a safe and
pleasant environment.
3. The most important steps to improve safety and encourage walking and cycling are
reducing the volume and speed of traffic. This also improves conditions for car occupants!
Special facilities for cyclists should be used sparingly and should be considered only where
reducing traffic volume or speed is not an option. This is because, above all, the right of
cyclists to use the road network in safety should be recognised. In addition, compared to
traffic calming which benefits all road users, special cycle facilities are expensive; they can
give drivers the impression that cyclists are not supposed to use the carriageway; they are all
too often sub-standard and they can actually increase danger for cyclists. We do support
advanced stop lines, ‘toucan’ crossings for pedestrians and cyclists and segregated off-road
facilities for children and/or where these provide shorter routes to key destinations. The Great
Western Way and Yazor Brook shared path are good examples.
4. Minimum standards should be agreed and always met. For example, cycle lanes which
are too narrow, too short, badly constructed, located or maintained will not be used. They
endanger cyclists and confirm the low status of cycling.
5. Signing, standards of design and materials, should conform to a design brief to ensure that
providing for cyclists (and pedestrians) contributes to an overall enhancement of our built and
rural environment.
We believe that the people of this county care deeply about the environment and that many
who want to cycle would do so if traffic were less intimidating and main routes more pleasant.

Our politicians could make Herefordshire an international leader in sustainable, low-carbon
transport — THE PLACE TO CYCLE!

March 2007 rev A April 2007

*Cycle Hereford is a volunteer action group committed to increasing cycling in and around
Hereford. Contact us via www.cyclehereford.com.

Posted: Sun - April 29, 2007 at 03:22 pm

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Cycle Hereford launch Blueprint for Cycling

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