Bristol Cyclists Demand Priority Cycle Network

by chris hutt Sun Oct 05, 2008 10:21

The timescale for the investment of potentially £22 million is ridiculously short, given that Bristol City Council has never before taken cycling seriously as a form of transport. It takes time to develop the experience, expertise and imagination to handle significant levels of investment in cycling. The Council cannot conceivably develop that “culture” in just a few months or even a couple of years.

The money involved is OUR money, not the Government’s, not Cycling England’s and not Bristol City Council’s. It is money taken from us in taxes to be spent for OUR benefit. We are entitled to insist that it is.

With the Cycle Expressway idea I think Josh has identified what may well turn out to be the most cost effective way of investing this money under the present circumstances. The one outstanding success of the last 30 years in Bristol has been a Cycle Expressway - the Railway Path to Staple Hill tunnel and on to Bath.

Almost everything else that has been done has been tokenistic, fragmented and compromised by the unwillingness of the Council to give cycling priority over the demands of motorists, most notably when it comes to managing car parking (imagine what could be done for cyclists if so much space on our roads wasn’t given over to provide subsidised car parking).

Josh proposes the creation of a network based on the principles of the Railway Path - complete segregation from motor traffic; direct, level and continuous routes; pleasant green environments and good linkages into surrounding areas. We know it works, PROVIDING it is implemented by an agency committed to getting it right and not by the Council itself.

This may be our one and only chance to take some control of this process. As Josh has pointed out the decision making has been deliberately kept out of our reach so far, notably by such mechanisms as the Stakeholders’ Panel where the Council even had the audacity to nominate the Bristol Cycling Campaign’s representative.

So let’s all recognise that this is the moment to take a stand and make it absolutely clear that we will not accept the Council, whose own track record is so appalling, treating OUR money as if it were theirs to spend as they see fit and expecting cyclists to be grateful for whatever they deign to dispense on our behalf.

by Dona Qixota Sun Oct 05, 2008 16:01

I never heard anything about this supposed consultation until reading it here, and unfortunately can't make it to Fairfield High School on the 8th.

The ideas put forward here sound very straighforward and practical. It's a real pity that the council officers who we pay large amounts of tax to employ, and the councillors we elect to work with them can't come up with such ideas.

How can those not able to get to the public hearing show support? Write letters or e-mail - who to?

by jodie Mon Oct 06, 2008 10:03

I agree with Dona - I thorougly agree with the proposals above though have no way of getting to Horfield on the 8th... Any other way of putting our views forward would be much appreciated!!

Jodie

by Pedestrian Mon Oct 06, 2008 11:25

When will you get to understand that you are a minority interest group? if any of your self-serving policies were ever taken seriously enough to be even partially implemented by any one of our political parties they would find themselves roundly dumped by the car driving majority at the next voting opportunity.

How about asking motorists how best cyclists can share road space as part of a truly integrated and joined up bit of thinking?

As long as cyclists set out their agenda as one to 'reclaim the streets' and enter into conflict by claiming some right to a preference over other road users they will remain literally ' in the gutter'. Cars and all other forms of motorised transport are going to be here to stay for a good long time; in all fuel types. Without them, deliveries stop; and as thats what gets your local product into the shops where pedestrians can go and buy it; your going to have to live with it.

To cite the gloucester road; It is entirely feasable to keep cyclists off this road altogether by developing adjacent corridors such as Brynland Avenue, North Road etc as preferred through routes for cyclists and keep the busy main road free of cycles. That would be to the benefit of cyclists, pedestrians and buses!

I would have thought that managing the transport issue to the most benefit to the most people is the way forward; unless your true agenda is not actually pro-transport but simply anti-car ?

by Oscar W Mon Oct 06, 2008 12:22

I bet anyone a fiver that 'Pedestrian' drives a 4 x 4!

by Sued Mon Oct 06, 2008 15:45

Haven't heard a peep about consultation on the Cycle City until seeing this on the onthelevel blog. Will try to attend but suspect it'll be a fait accompli hatched behind closed doors. No doubt there will be protestations that there were consultation opportunities which took place for half an hour on a Wednesday in August...

by Josh Hart Mon Oct 06, 2008 17:44

If you want to make comments about the Cycling City Plan, you can e-mail your local councillor, and carbon copy mark.bradshaw@bristol.gov.uk and terry.cook@bristol.gov.uk

You can find your local councillor at:

http://www.bristol.gov.uk/ccm/content/Council-Democracy...er.en

Would be good to send comments in asap.

Cheers

Josh

by Jodie Tue Oct 07, 2008 09:52

Have emailed them, thanks!

And to pedestrian - it's quite simple, the more facilities you put in place for alternative transport, the more people will use it! I am not anti-car, I agree that car's etc. will always be around, but can we not make it safer / easier for those that don't use them??