HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL
AGENDA 21 PANEL Item 10
30 OCTOBER 1996
CYCLING AND AGENDA 21
REPORT OF THE ASSISTANT COUNTY COUNTRYSIDE AND COMMUNITY OFFICER
AND THE COUNTY SURVEYOR
Further information: Marcus Kingwell 01962 846172
1. Introduction
1.1 Hampshire County Council's cycling initiatives have a major contribution
to make to its environmental policy objectives, which form the core of
the Agenda 21 Plan. Cycling projects are currently being pursued by the
County Countryside And Community Department and the County Surveyor.
2. Cycling as an alternative transport mode
2.1 The County Structure Plan (Review) emphasises the need to encourage
cycling as a critical element of the overall transport strategy for
Hampshire. Over 30% of all journeys to and from work are five miles or
less. Many motorists own cycles and would be more likely to use them if
conditions were right. This demonstrates the potential for a shift of
commuting traffic to cycling and walking. This approach has also been
endorsed by the Department of Transport, with the recent publication of
the National Cycling Strategy. The central target of the strategy is to
double the number of trips by cycle by the end of 2002, with a further
doubling by 2012.
2.2 The County Council has adopted the following policies to encourage
cycling:
* To make sure cyclists' and pedestrians' needs are considered from
the planning to construction stage when designing transport
facilities, having regard to the need for personal security of
users;
* To expect new development areas, wherever possible, to include
built-in traffic calming to slow vehicle speeds;
* To carefully consider highway maintenance needs on roads carrying
high levels of cycle traffic;
* To encourage and promote more continuous cycle routes following
lines of travel demand;
* To consider carefully the provision of shared pedestrian and cycle
facilities where these are appropriate and justified;
* To encourage and provide more secure cycle parking facilities
close to major developments of all kinds; and
* To promote, wherever possible, the benefits of cycling and walking
to Hampshire people.
2.3 The greatest benefits from implementing cycling facilities can be gained
in urban areas. These facilities can help shift shorter distance trips
from cars to cycling. The area-wide transportation strategies are
pursuing the implementation of safe cycling and pedestrian facilities
through the package bid process. The County Council are also committed
to providing secure cycle parking facilities at passenger transport
interchanges and other key locations across the County.
2.4 The County Council is working with a number of Hampshire Schools in
partnership with Sustrans (the national cycling charity) through its
'Safe Routes to Schools' project. The project aims to provide safe
routes and facilities aimed at encouraging more pupils to walk or cycle
to school.
2.5 The County Council is currently developing a rural cycling strategy for
the New Forest which will attempt to provide for both utility and
recreational cycling to the benefit of the local environment and
economy.
3. Transport Awareness
3.1 Hampshire County Council's Headstart campaign continues to promote
cycling as well as other alternatives to the car. As a result of
this campaign the County Council is developing a staff transport plan to
encourage more sustainable use of transport, including more cycling, and
has approached employers keen to contribute to this process, or develop
their own action plans. Hampshire County Council has also developed a
school transport plan with Horndean School which will form a model for
other schools to follow.
3.2 Headstart was selected by the national Local Agenda 21 Panel as one of
only six initiatives from the UK to be presented to the 1996 World
Summit held in Istanbul.
4. Recreational Cycling in Hampshire
4.1 Recreational cycling is important because:
* locally, huge interest has been shown in recreational cycling
facilities, events and information
* about 2 million new cycles are sold in Britain each year, 40% of which
are mountain bikes, clearly intended for recreational purposes
* modal choice decisions about leisure trips may be easier to influence
than other trips in the short term.
4.2 Hampshire County Council's Draft Recreational Cycling Strategy sets out
the priorities and time scales for work in this area. The strategy has
the following aims:
* to provide a range of high quality, safe and enjoyable facilities for
cycling, which will meet the needs of both the residents of Hampshire
and visitors
* to promote recreational cycling
* to encourage a broader shift in transport mode to cycling in support
of the County Council's strategic transportation objectives as
embodied in the County Structure Plan.
4.3 At the centre of the strategy is the vision of a recreational cycling
network, which will provide safe and enjoyable cycling routes that link
places of interest and urban areas. This network will capitalise on
projects such as the National Cycle Network, as promoted by Sustrans,
and the National Byways project. The network will enable both long and
short distance journeys for a full range of potential users. It will be
supported by high quality and attractive promotional materials and
signposting, and will provide support to sustainable tourism and the
local economy. The strategy also recognises the need to work in
partnership with the District Councils, unitary authorities and the
private and voluntary sectors.
4.4 Over the last year, recreational cycling projects have been pursued by
an officer on an internal secondment. At their meeting on the 19
September 1996, Recreation Committee approved half of the funding for a
permanent post to continue this area of work. A report will be submitted
in November to the Planning and Transportation Committee to seek the
remaining funding for this post.
5. Cycling and the Environmental Policy Objectives
5.1 Hampshire County Council has eight environmental policy objectives which
form the core of the County Council's Agenda 21 Plan. The contribution
of cycling towards some of these objectives is explored below.
5.2 (c) Eliminate the unnecessary use of energy
(e) Reduce air, land, water and artificial light pollution
(h) Reduce the unnecessary use of scarce and/or non-renewable resources
5.3 Road transport produces over 20% of UK green house gas emissions.
Reducing car use is an essential component of any strategy to reducing
the greenhouse effect. Cycling uses only negligible amounts of fossil
energy. Encouraging people to cycle instead of driving is potentially
one of the best ways to reduce 'green house' emissions. There are also
similar benefits in relation to acid emissions (NOx and SOx).
5.4 (d) Reduce the need for movement of people and goods and encourage
walking, cycling, and travel by rail and bus as alternatives to the car.
5.5 Area-wide transportation strategies, Headstart, the 'Safe Routes to
Schools' project and the recreational cycling network are all directed
towards achieving this aim. Cycling provides an alternative travel
choice for motorists as well as opening up opportunities to those who do
not have access to a car.
5.6 (g) Conserve and enhance the county's built and natural environment,
retaining its diversity
5.7 Reducing the dominance of the car is an important step towards any
environmental improvements. Sensitively designed cycle routes are
increasingly being incorporated in package works in urban areas.
Recreational routes can often be implemented with no new construction by
using quiet minor roads and rights of way.
6. Conclusion
6.1 Increasing interest in health and, awareness of environmental issues,
the growth of activity holidays and short breaks, and the wider use of
traffic management techniques to favour cyclists are all likely to
sustain the growth of cycling. Supporting and developing facilities for
cycling in Hampshire provides many opportunities for a practical
expression of the County Council's commitment to Agenda 21.
RECOMMENDATION
1. That the report is noted.
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