subject: Bristol for Cyclists: An Overview of the ‘Cycling City' in 2010 [print this page] Bristol for Cyclists: An Overview of the Cycling City' in 2010
Bristol was named first Cycling City back in 2008, with total funding for the scheme (including local inputs) amounting to 22.8 million. "Cycling City (says the council) represents clear recognition of our solid commitment to promote and encourage cycling through better infrastructure, training and promotion." The aim of 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, having spent just 1.7 million as of October 2009.
What's happened so far?
Residents in certain areas will 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 Bike Ride' saw a 40% increase in entrants in 2009, with community bicycle groups, bike shops, community groups and charities all showing enthusiasm for organising bike rides to take advantage of 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 bike paths, Bristolians may also have noticed the Better By Bike representatives at key commuting spots like the Southville footbridge; the Hire Bike racks (for example by the Bristol Royal Infirmary); and of course the many events which have been visible in the city centre and ongoing initiatives such as the Mud Dock Cafe's discounted bike maintenance sessions at Bristol Waterfront or the new South Bristol 20mph zones. Other Bristol bike-related projects gaining publicity via the Bristol Better By Bike news forums include a new cycling project for disabled adults and children called All Abilities- which helps those who are less able to use standard bikes to get cycling- and the Bristol Bike Project, a charitable initiative which provides tools, materials and support for refugees, homeless and other vulnerable persons to build their own bicycles in order to give them an independent source of transport.
There have also been many commendable attempts by Better by Bike to initiate newcomers into cycling; including subsidised riding lessons, bike maintenance workshops (including 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 get their bikes up to standard for the commute.
Some concerns about the way forward?
Bristol has always had a vibrant community of cyclists and this scheme appears to have proved the catalyst for many of those who had fallen away to rejoin the cycling community. However, some biking groups have reservations about the limitation of the Cycling City scheme. While welcoming the opportunities which the funding has brought for local cyclists, some commentators have raised concerns that the aim to double' the number of cyclists could pose problems given two factors: the safety of cycling in Bristol, where over half of all commuters travel to work by car (2001 Census); and security issues- since Bristol city remains one of the UK hotspots for bicycle theft.
The Bristol Cycling Campaign is a community group which aims to improve local cycling and transport infrastructure and which focuses on safety issues for cyclists and other related issues. While actively engaging with the Cycling City consultations and making an effort to take part 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 regular events, has found 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 of the infrastructure projects in the Bristol Cycling City pipeline here: the Cycling Campaign's criticisms (for example of the Cumberland Basin proposal) have included flagging up safety 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 bike thefts, since around 50% of bikes are actually stolen from the victims' home premises, it may be that a new approach to Bristol home security is the prime issue here. When out and about, a sturdy lock can go a long way to deterring thieves, as can a clearly marked traceable bike (Avon and Somerset police recommend you register your bike with bikeregister.com ). However, Bristol policeman Andy Bennet has said that "One of the big challenges for cyclists is finding secure parking outside the centre. I know this will change over time, however if my experience is anything to go by, expensive locks aren't always enough." He notes that Bristol bike thefts rise in 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 bikes every year, do mark your bike so it's traceable. Underlining the situation in Bristol is the blog Stolen Bristol Bikes.com which offers safety tips and a forum for those who have lost expensive bikes to attempt to recover them. Its very existence, of course, underscores the problem which Bristol may face in tackling the issue.
With regard to safety concerns about Bristol cycling, these come both from pedestrians and from cyclists themselves. The safety of cyclists on Bristol roads is consistently highlighted by cyclists who feel that cars and lorries are not aware, or considerate, of bikes alongside or behind them, and that paths are not adequate or conforming to safety standards. Bristol Cycling Campaign cautions that some Bristol roads have unsafe attributes: cyclists are often confronted with vehicles turning left across their path due to placement of bike lanes, a situation addressed in Denmark and in the Netherlands by using preferential traffic light systems which prioritise cyclists and pedestrians (Bristol Council is investigating implementing these types of systems, as this recent report shows). CTC Bristol and the Bristol Cycling Campaign both stress the responsibility of cyclists to use the road lawfully and sensibly, and both promote regular 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 both offer cycling proficiency tests.
The recent increase in cycling accidents in Bristol over the last few years may actually be deceptive; since given the likely increase in cycles on Bristol roads overall, it is impossible to tell if the relative number of cyclists who are involved in accidents has risen in comparison. A spokesperson from Sustrans said recently (of the rise in Bristol bike accidents) : "Some of it will be cyclists' behaviour, some of it will be motorists' behaviour.[...]What it does tell us is we need to invest into cycling facilities [to increase safety]". Only time will tell whether the Cycling City initiative will result in raising awareness of safety issues from both drivers and cyclists, to go along with the new cycle lanes. Without a decrease in the number of cars and lorries using the roads alongside cyclists, it is debatable whether road safety will cease to be a challenge in Bristol in the near future if the council's aims to put 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 as a safety hazard on the city's footpaths- are unlikely to be fully allayed unless cyclists are put off leaving incomplete or unsafe cycle paths and compete for space on the pavements. Bristol Council claims more cyclists will create more safety as they reach "critical mass". Only time will tell if this is true in practice.
The future of cycling in Bristol is by no means assured, but the enthusiasm and determination of local cyclists has gone a long way in pushing the issue to both the council and the public. The next step for the Council is focusing on the home-school journey, and on particular communities with programmes, events and funding aimed at specific localities and school 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 of the most important things for the coming months will be the productive and useful dialogue which has opened up between cyclists (both seasoned and those new to biking), car owners, local government and the Bristol community. Bristol cyclists are lucky to have such a vibrant and committed group 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 information see "Greater Bristol Cycling City: The Delivery Strategy 2008-2011" which is available on the Council website.
