Labour investment in Bristol Cycling City

Greater Bristol has been chosen as England's first official Cycling City - making it the country's premier national and international showcase city for promoting cycling as a safe, healthy and practical alternative to the private car for commuting, home-to-school and leisure journeys.

Bristol was announced as a Cycling City today (Thursday June 19) by Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly. Public Health Minister, Dawn Primarolo, made a special visit to Mud Dock, Bristol, where she presented Council Leader Helen Holland with a plaque to mark the coveted status for the city.

The successful bid, submitted by Bristol City Council and South Gloucestershire Councils, beat off tough competition from other leading English cities to scoop the award.

Government funding totalling £11.4 million has been awarded to Bristol to transform cycling infrastructure and to pioneer innovative ways of making cycling a real alternative to the car. This funding will be matched by Bristol and South Gloucestershire councils and their partners creating a total scheme value of £22.8 million over the next two and a half years.

Greater Bristol’s bid was based on a strong commitment to cycling. Initiatives include:

New off-road cycle routes:

improving safety and links to the Bristol and Bath Railway Path and creating a new north/south cycle path between Lockleaze and Hengrove

New on-road cycling routes:

integrating cycling improvements into the development of quality bus corridors
improving cycle routes on quieter roads
improving difficult road junctions for cyclists
providing more cycle parking throughout the city
introducing bike hire schemes, such as Hourbike and ferry bike hire

Other initiatives bound for Bristol

… and a series of innovations piloted in Bristol and adopted widely throughout the UK including:

advance stop lines at traffic signals
simple designs for contra-flow cycle lanes
cyclists Give Way signs replacing Cyclists Dismount signs

An ambitious, clear vision for the future aims to double the number of people cycling in the Greater Bristol area. To achieve this requires the implementation of a series of measures to help overcome barriers to cycling including fear of motor traffic and lack of route knowledge.

Linking Bristol to the wider region

New cycle paths are planned linking the city centre with Nailsea in North Somerset, and providing a waterside route from Temple Meads to Cabot Circus. And there are new plans for a 24 hour automated bike hire scheme called ‘Hourbike’, providing bike locations (docking stations) across Bristol City centre and further afield around Parkway Station and the University of the West of England. This is subject to agreements on funding by the operator.

Encouraging the cycling revolution

Bristol City Council and South Gloucestershire Council have improved rates of employee cycling from six per cent in 2003 to ten per cent in 2007. Greater Bristol will use the new money to introduce new cycling initiatives and enhance existing schemes to improve cycling rates in the wider population. Below is a rundown of some of the schemes in development:

Currently there are 45,000 short trips per day of less than three miles. Personal Travel Plans for individuals, schools, employers and community organisations aim to target short trips. The plans would involve adult cycle training, advice and access to bikes through an extended bike recycling scheme. Employers would also receive advice on how to set up a Salary Sacrifice Scheme and cycle-friendly facilities such as showers and secure bike stores.
A new cycle planner is in development - a comprehensive map of safer routes and facilities, helping new and existing cyclists plan the safest, flattest route and access secure parking, showers and other facilities.
An expanded programme of neighbourhood events such as local bike rides, bike breakfasts and Dr Bike cycle maintenance sessions.
A substantial proportion of children would like to cycle to school, but only two per cent do so. School Travel Plans aim to introduce more measures to improve these rates, including raising the levels of Bikeability training from 1,100 to 2,000 pupils per year.

Reactions to the news

Announcing the coveted status for Bristol, Ruth Kelly said: “I am delighted to appoint Bristol as the UK's first ever Cycling City. I am sure that Bristol's bold and ambitious plans will support cyclists and encourage more people to get on their bikes, get fit and beat the traffic.”

Councillor Helen Holland, Leader of Bristol City Council, said: “For Bristol to become England's first Cycling City is a fantastic achievement for our city, our neighbours in South Gloucestershire and our partners, especially in the PCT and Sustrans. The bid maps out how we will work together to ensure that cycling continues to become more and more popular for work and leisure trips, and for journeys to school for children and young people. This award reflects our ambition to create safer and healthier communities throughout the city.

“Our aim is to make the bicycle a real alternative for many more people travelling to and around Bristol. This award, and the funding that it brings, will enable us to progress with a raft of off and on-road improvements, alongside promotional activity which will encourage more people, across the generations, to chose pedal power to make a real difference to their own and our city's health and environment."

Councillor Mark Bradshaw, Bristol City Council's Cabinet Member for Sustainable Development, said: “There is very much a cycling culture in Bristol and increased funding as a demonstration city will show that the bicycle can be a realistic and convenient mode of transport for more people as part of their everyday lives. This will help to reach a tipping point in travel behaviour in the city.

“A cycling city will deliver benefits in terms of improved health and well-being and play a part in reconnecting people and revitalising neighbourhoods. More people cycling for short journeys will contribute to reducing motor traffic on city roads redressing the balance by returning the streets to a place for meeting, socialising, play and entertainment.”