Welcoming news of new government funding for cycling, local transport expert and local councillor John Whitelegg says there are things that could easily be done to encourage more cycling in what is already a Cycling Town – but local politicians lack the will to implement them.
The North West could soon join a national cycling revolution, after Secretary of State for Transport, Ruth Kelly, invited towns and cities across the region to bid for a record £140 million fund to help a generation rediscover their bikes.
The government hopes its ambitious new drive to boost cycling over the next three years as part of the Government’s forthcoming Obesity Strategy will create more opportunities for exercise as well as helping to tackle road congestion and improve air quality.
“This is good news,” feels John, “but government at all levels still does not get the main point about cycling. If we really want to encourage cycling in Lancaster, there are several things we could do but the highway authority, Lancashire County Council, will not do them.”
His suggestions include a blanket 20mph speed limit on every residential road – already agreed but not fully implemented councy council policy – and make sure the police enforce it. “The police are supposed to work to a democratic remit through the police authority and through PACT,” John notes.
Locally, “you could also make make Common Garden Street a contra flow cycle path so cyclists can get through town and on to the Middle Street/ Fenton route to the railway station and Marsh area,” John proposes. “The one-way system is an enormous turn-off for cycling and it should be abolished.
“People should also stop parking on cycle lanes. The cycle lane on King Street is occupied by parked vehicles at many times in the day.”
John also suggests the County Council should build safe and segregated cycle routes to all our secondary schools (nationally, the government’s new funding will help build another 250 Safe Links to Schools, connecting around 500 more schools to the National Cycle Network).
National government should make it possible to take bikes on buses and trains.
“We should also stop the ridiculous system of giving city council staff and councillors a free gift of about £500 per anumn if they use a car but nothing at all if they cycle,” he argues. “The £500 is the difference between the costs of a general all-car park parking permit in Lancaster to citizens and to Council people.
“This is a job for the City Council.”
The new money will create up to a further 10 Cycling Demonstration Towns in England, as well as the first large Demonstration City. In just one year the six current Cycling Demonstration Towns, including Lancaster and Morecambe, achieved an average 20 per cent increase in cycle trips.
The government says this new programme of funding has been influenced by the very good value for money which the current Cycling Town projects exhibit, according to economic research by Cycling England (www.cyclingengland.co.uk).
Cycling England will be seeking bids for the new Cycle Demonstration Towns and City in spring 2008/9. Following a period of planning, the major investment will begin the following year.