Policy

All three Councils have long recognised the need for a set of robust cycling policies and have established cycling strategies that recognise the contribution that cycling makes to the Transportation Infrastructure. A set of joint policies has been agreed, and it includes statements on the following:

As a result of the public consultation exercise, the following problems and opportunities were identified:

Problems

Opportunities

The National Cycling Strategy promotes cycling priority on the highway, in the centre of towns, at the workplace and in new developments. This will hopefully generate a national culture change towards cycling and encourage more residents to regard cycling as a viable alternative to the private car.

TARGETS

Short-Term Target

Extend the cycle network to all major employers, schools and leisure attractions. Double 1992 cycle flows by 2002.

Long-Term Target

Quadruple 1992 cycle flows by 2010.

Other Targets

In line with the National Cycling Strategy, we will be working towards the Government target for cycle usage whereby the 1996 levels will be doubled by 2002 and these will again be doubled by the year 2012.

1. To further enhance the cross-conurbation cycle network with a safe, secure and convenient network of cycle routes to encourage and promote greater use of cycles for commuting, education and leisure.

2. We will work towards the completion of the National Cycling Network across the conurbation and appropriate links to it.

3. All local authorities within the conurbation will regularly liaise and consult with cycling groups.

4. We support the aims of the Greenlink programme and actively seek to promote the routes for 'Greenways and Quiet Roads' within the conurbation, through a partnership between the various local authorities and Greenlink.

5. A programme of safe, secure and convenient cycle parking facilities will be developed across the conurbation.

6. Cycling plays an important role in the overall transportation strategy. Improved links to, and cycle parking facilities at, public transport interchanges are vital to provide a seamless sustainable transport system.

7. Provision for cyclists must be made an integral part of highway improvements, land-use development schemes and traffic management schemes. Cycle audits must be carried out for all major road, traffic and development schemes.

8. To increase the number of children and adults undertaking safety cycle training.

The design of cycle routes must be considered for each individual route. This will follow national guidelines whereby on-road cycle routes are considered first and shared use cycleways are only considered as a last resort, if all other options are deemed unsuitable or the road space is not available.

The National Cycle Network

A 9,000-mile National Cycle Network is being promoted by SUSTRANS. In the year 2000, the Millennium Route which comprises 5,000 miles of cycle routes will open, with the remaining 4,000 miles being completed by the year 2005. The south coast route passes through the conurbation with Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch working towards the completion of this prestigious project. Although primarily a leisure route, several key sections will be integrated into the conurbation-wide cycle network.

Click for Cycling Facilities Map 5.2. (This will open in a new window.)

The Area Cycle Map leaflet, which was a joint venture between Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch Councils, shows the cycle routes in the conurbation.

Monitoring

Cycle usage has been monitored by the use of inner cordon points within the conurbation together with other key monitoring sites. Cycle survey data is at present insufficient and therefore must be improved to ascertain whether targets have been met.

Permanent cycle monitoring sites have been established at 13 locations and 5 automatic cycle counters have been dedicated to monitoring these on a rotational basis.

Examples of Past Achievements

Significant investment has been made since the early-1990s in the conurbation's cycle network. Since that time, some 83km. of dedicated cycle lane has been provided including 16 toucan crossings and 7 traffic signal junctions with cycle facilities.

Well over £1m. of expenditure has achieved the following list of specific cycle routes, as well as many others:

• Co-ordinated cycle route to the university
• Lighting cycle path in Meyrick Park (Bournemouth town centre) to encourage commuter use
• Holes Bay cycle bay commuter and leisure route
• Cabot Lane to Sopers Lane cycle link - commuter and school route to the strategic cycle network
• Cycleway through Mudeford Woods, part of a National Cycle Network
• TOUCAN crossings, which allow safe crossing of major roads by both cyclists and pedestrians, have been installed at:
• Broadstone Way - Mission Lane link to The Trailway
• A350 Holes Bay Road near Poole town centre allowing improved access to a new cycle route
• A349 Gravel Hill, outside Poole Grammar School
• B3074 Canford Heath Road, Poole
• B3059 Stour Road, Christchurch
• Ringwood Road near Oakmead School

The Future...

Continuing with this commitment, the joint bid for cycling in the five-year bid is £1.779m. This will be used to enhance the existing cycleway network and to further the initiatives listed below:

• Extending the cycle network
• Implementing Greenlinks
• Increasing National Cycle Network through the conurbation
• Increased monitoring of routes
• Promenade cycle route
• Improve links to public transport interchanges
• Further cycle parking provision
• Cycle audit of schemes
• Safer routes to schools
• Increasing uptake on cycling proficiency
• Cycle training for adults