Bristol was named first Cycling City return in 2008, with total funding for the scheme within regional inputs amounting to 22. Cycling City says the council represents clean recognition of our solid commitment to promote and encourage cycling through better infrastructure, training and promotion. The aim regarding the Cycling City project for the Councils was to double the number' of regular' cyclists in Bristol. Since the launch, the city has seen highs and lows in its attempts to promote cycling, possessing spent just 1. 7 million as of October 2009.
What's happened so far?. Residents in sure regions shall have benefited from new cycle paths; with 13 miles worth of new improvements planned in by 2011, and those already built seeing heavy use for some, 5800 monthly trips, according to the council. The very successful Cycle Maps have had to vastly increase their print runs year on year, to cope with demand; and the Bristol Biggest Bicycle Ride' saw a 40% increase in entrants in 2009, with community bicycle groups, bicycle shops, community groups and charities all showing enthusiasm for organising bicycle rides to take advantage regarding the scheme's promotional platform the events page of Better By Bike, the face which Cycling City presents to the public, is crammed full of cycling days out. As well as the new bicycle paths, Bristolians shall also have noticed the Better By Bicycle representatives at key commuting spots like the Southville footbridge; the Hire Bicycle racks for example by the Bristol Royal Infirmary? and of course the many events which have been visible within the city centre and ongoing initiatives for example the Mud Dock Cafe's discounted bicycle maintenance sessions at Bristol Waterfront or the new Southern Bristol 20mph zones. Other Bristol bike-related projects gaining publicity via the Bristol Better By Bicycle news forums with an special cycling project for disabled adults and children called All Abilities- which helps the people who are fewer can use standard bicycles to obtain cycling- and the Bristol Bicycle Project, a charitable initiative which sends tools, fabrics and help for refugees, homeless and other vulnerable persons to build their own bicycles sequential to release them an independent source of transport.
There have also been many commendable attempts by Better by Bicycle to initiate newcomers into cycling; within subsidised riding lessons, bicycle maintenance workshops within women-focused training sessions and competitions to win cycling gear. Bristol University has got on board with a free Cycle Surgery for students and staff to obtain their bicycles up to standard for the commute. Some concerns related to the method forward?. Bristol has always had a vibrant community of cyclists and this scheme appears to have proved the catalyst for many of the people who had fallen distant to rejoin the cycling community. However, some biking groups have reservations related to the limitation regarding the Cycling City scheme.
While welcoming the opportunities which the funding has brought for regional cyclists, some commentators have raised concerns that the aim to double' the many cyclists should pose problems provided 3 factors: the security of cycling in Bristol, where over 1/2 of all commuters venture to work by car 2001 Census? and security issues- since Bristol city remains one regarding the UK hotspots for bicycle theft. The Bristol Cycling Campaign is a community team which aims to improve regional cycling and transport infrastructure and which focuses on security issues for cyclists and other related issues. While actively engaging with the Cycling City consultations and creating an effort to take component in events and contribute to discussions, the response to their attempts to engage with the council was, so they report, not always positive. The Campaign, which keeps in touch with members via newsletters and standard events, has located that their comments on council proposals have not been received favourably; they also claim access to consultations, and opportunities for feedback on the Cycle City plans, have been limited. There is a list regarding the infrastructure projects within the Bristol Cycling City pipeline here: the Cycling Campaign's criticisms for example regarding the Cumberland Basin proposal have included flagging up security issues, with comments that plans are not in accord with DfT guidance.
The Campaign has recently held meetings with the Cycling City Project Manager Ed Plowden to discuss their concerns; the outcome of which has not yet been published. With regard to bicycle thefts, since around 50% of bicycles are actually stolen from the victims' home premises, it should be that an special approach to Bristol home security is the prime issue here. However, Bristol policeman Andy Bennet has spoke about that One regarding the large challenges for cyclists is finding secure parking outside the centre. I have knowledge of this shall change over time, however if my skills development is anything to leave by, expensive locks aren't always enough. He notes that Bristol bicycle thefts rise within the summer months: so be extra vigilant and make sure your lock is up to scratch many cyclists now use two, and since the police do recover hundreds of stolen bicycles every year, do mark your bicycle so it's traceable.
Its very existence, of course, underscores the difficulty which Bristol shall face in tackling the issue. With regard to security concerns about Bristol cycling, these return most from pedestrians and from cyclists themselves. The security of cyclists on Bristol roads is consistently highlighted by cyclists who look that cars and lorries are not aware, or considerate, of bicycles alongside or behind them, and that paths are not adequate or conforming to security standards. Bristol Cycling Campaign cautions that some Bristol roads have unsafe attributes: cyclists are often confronted with vehicles turning left throughout their path due to placement of bicycle lanes, a situation addressed in Denmark and within the Netherlands by creating use of preferential traffic light processes which prioritise cyclists and pedestrians Bristol Council is investigating implementing these variations of systems, as this recent report shows. CTC Bristol and the Bristol Cycling Campaign most stress the responsibility of cyclists to use the path lawfully and sensibly, and most promote standard training workshops; the Cycling City campaign has also pushed safety, offering high-vis jackets as prizes in competitions.
Avon and Somerset Police and the University most release cycling proficiency tests. The recent increase in cycling accidents in Bristol over the final little years shall actually be deceptive; since provided the likely increase in cycles on Bristol roads overall, it is impossible to tell if the relative many cyclists who are involved in accidents has risen in comparison. A spokesperson from Sustrans spoke about recently regarding the rise in Bristol bicycle accidents ? Little of it should be cyclists' behaviour, little of it should be motorists' behaviour. ]What it does tell us is we should invest into cycling facilities [to increase safety]. Only time shall tell whether the Cycling City initiative shall result in raising awareness of security issues from most drivers and cyclists, to leave along with the new cycle lanes.
Without a decrease within the many cars and lorries creating use of the roads alongside cyclists, it is debatable whether path security shall cease to be a challenge in Bristol within the near future if the council's aims to place between 100 000 and 150,000 new cyclists on the road' are successful. Likewise, the concerns of pedestrians- particularly those of Bristol's blind community, who recently branded Bristol cyclists like a security hazard on the city's footpaths- are unlikely to be fully allayed unless cyclists are place off leaving incomplete or unsafe cycle paths and compete for space on the pavements. Bristol Council claims more cyclists shall make more security as they reach critical mass. Only time shall tell if this is true in practice. The future of cycling in Bristol is by no means assured, but the enthusiasm and determination of regional cyclists has gone an extended method in pushing the issue to most the council and the public.
The next step for the Council is focusing on the home-school journey, and on critical communities with programmes, events and funding aimed at critical localities and college premises, as well as continuing to target commuters in Bristol with the Workplace Cycle Champion scheme. It's certainly an exciting time to be a cyclist in Bristol; one regarding the greatest important things for the coming months should be the productive and useful dialogue which has opened up between cyclists most seasoned and those new to biking, car owners, regional government and the Bristol community. Bristol cyclists are lucky to have such a vibrant and committed team of bike-lovers championing their cause; we can only hope that the Cycling City funding continues moving Bristol into a positive new era for commuting cyclists. For more details look Greater Bristol Cycling City: The Delivery Strategy 2008-2011 that is available on the Council website.
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