Bristol named as UK's first 'cycling city'
The Bristol to Bath cycle path (BikeRadar)
Bristol has been named as the UK's first 'cycling city' by the Department for Transport.
Over the next three years, it and 11 other 'cycling demonstration towns' will share in £100m worth of funding aimed at improving cycling infrastructure and promoting the benefits of cycling. Bristol is expected to receive around £23m, roughly half of which will be provided by the Government, the other half from the local area.
The other 11 towns are Blackpool, Cambridge, Chester, Colchester, Leighton/Linslade, Shrewsbury, Southend on Sea, Southport with Ainsdale, Stoke, Woking and York. There are in addition six more cycling demonstration towns: Aylesbury, Brighton, Darlington, Derby, Exeter and Lancaster, that have received £7m of the funding since 2005.
Bristol wants to double the number of people cycling over the next three years, by:
- Creating the UK's first on-street bike rental network, modelled on the successful Paris scheme
- Establishing a 're-cycling' scheme, providing free bikes to those in deprived communities
- Building a facility for cyclists in the city centre providing showers, bike parking and lockers so commuters can have a wash and brush up before work
- Creating a dedicated cycleway to link the suburbs with the city centre opening up new, safer options for commuters who currently rely on their cars
- More than doubling the number of children receiving cycling training
In announcing Bristol as the UK's first cycling city, Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly said, "A quarter of journeys made every day by car are less than two miles. Cycling is an alternative that could bring real health benefits to millions of adults and children, as well as helping them save money and beat congestion.
"The first step in persuading people to leave their cars at home is to offer them a real choice. Providing a step change in cycling facilities, dedicated cycle lanes, more training and information will have a big impact on how people choose to travel.
Phillip Darnton, Chairman of Cycling England, added, "We have learnt from our European neighbours, such as the Netherlands, that increased and sustained investment is the key to getting more people enjoying the benefits of cycling."
The investment into cycling in Bristol comes only a few months after controversial plans to build a bus lane on the popular Bath-Bristol bike path were shelved.
User Comments
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papasmurf.
Posted Thu 19 Jun, 10:30 am UTC Flag as inappropriate
If the council weren't such numpties I might have a bit of faith in this...
plus as one of the bike crime hotspots I wonder how long the rental fleet will last.
also building one all singing and dancing bike facility is okay, but how about actually increasing proper bike parking\locking facilities across the whole city.
and maybe some of the money can go to regularly sweeping the mountians of glass from the cycle lanes in the mornings.
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CherryUp
Posted Thu 19 Jun, 4:55 pm UTC Flag as inappropriate
You might want to change the sub heading for this: Share of £100 worth of funding over the next three years
£100?
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Docsavage
Posted Fri 20 Jun, 11:32 am UTC Flag as inappropriate
When I saw this in the news I actually became really angry.
Seeing Ruth Kelly on the BBC only made it worse!!
Don't get me wrong, I am pleased that these initiatives are being taken, anything that might possibly make cycling on the UK's roads safer and more pleasant needs to be supported. It's just that living and cycling in Bristol on a daily basis means that you see the reality, the horrible cold truth of what Bristol City Council actually does (or rather doesn't), do on the ground, for cycling.
This is a city council that was prepared to support putting a bus route down one of the most used and popular cycling and walking routes in the country. Only after a massive outcry from every quarter did they back down.
Look at the most recent road schemes implemented over the last few years and all you see is really badly thought out, and often dangerous 'provision' for bikes. The new central shopping area, Old Market, Hotwells the list is endless.
Papasmurf is right, apart from all these serious issues, the state of the roads is appalling and the cycle lanes that do exist play second fiddle in terms of maintenance.
Take the cycle access out of temple meads - the main station. there is currently NO facility to get back out and up to the north of the city without putting them slap bang in the middle of some of the busiest traffic in the city. The hugely used footbridge being shut to service the needs of the developers, but with no alternative in place.
An added bonus to this is our local rag (Bristol Evening Post, owned by the Daily Mail!) which regularly attempts to vilify us and wind up the already rabid anti cycling mob with it's shock horror 'lycra lout'
To make out that Bristol Council is capable of creating this cycling utopia based on current experiences stretches my credulity beyond breaking point.As far as I'm aware we have one, yes one! cycling officer - Andy Whitehead to represent us and thats farcical.
Without genuine collective support, understanding and a strong will to actually implement the change needed to make this city's cycle access even remotely safe and cycle friendly we will see nothing but irrelevant signage and half assed painted cycle lanes which will do nothing whatsoever towards making Bristol safe for cycles.
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AndyManc
Posted Fri 20 Jun, 2:08 pm UTC Flag as inappropriate
The majority of the money will be lost in 'suits with clipboards' walking round the area.
Docsavage , it's the same situation in Manchester , cycle lane construction that actually puts cyclist in active conflict with other traffic .... it's an horrendous state of affairs.
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