Too many people in the UK feel they have no choice but to travel in ways that are dangerous, unhealthy, polluting and costly, not just to their own wallets but also to the public purse. Urgent action is required to address Britain’s chronic levels of obesity, heart disease, air pollution and congestion if we are to catch up with other countries in the developed world.
Cyclenation in collaboration with CTC would like the guidance contained in the appendices to this paper to be adopted as the national standard for cycle mapping in the UK. Cycle mapping has become far too diverse with many maps bearing little relation to the actual conditions for cyclists on the ground, with a unhealthy preoccupation with ‘facilities’. Now is the time to adopt a common approach to useful tool for all people using bicycles.
Bicycling in cities is booming, for many reasons: health and environmental benefits, time and cost savings, more and better bike lanes and paths, innovative bike sharing programs, and the sheer fun of riding. City Cycling offers a guide to this urban cycling renaissance, with the goal of promoting cycling as sustainable urban transportation available to everyone.
London has a long way to go to achieve the Mayor’s objective of a cycling revolution. Only 2 per cent of journeys in London are made by bicycle. This falls short of other UK cities like Bristol, Cambridge and Hull, and it is significantly less than the Netherlands – where 26 per cent of journeys are made by bicycle – and Copenhagen, which sees 36 per cent of work and study-related trips cycled.
Psychological perspectives on drivers and driving have been with us for since before the advent of mass motoring. The car’s unique potential to afford freedom and compromise safety has been a focus of formal psychological study for almost as long. This has resulted in a canon of excellent research, the shaping of interventions and legislation, and the saving and enhancement of lives. In seeking to prevent collisions, it has had quite an impact!
Cars contribute to local air pollution, traffic danger, congestion and poor physical health due to lack of exercise. If the final goal of sustainable development is to sustain or improve the quality of life for all, now and into the longterm future, the current growth in private car use is clearly unsustainable. Understanding why most people prefer using a car over other modes of transport for their daily travel, and how they can be persuaded to use their cars less or even abandon them altogether, is therefore an important goal for psychology.
Atkins was commissioned as part of a multidisciplinary project team which includes MVA Consultancy, Phil Jones Associates and TRL to carry out evidence based research into the factors which influence the design and operation of segregated and unsegregated pedestrian and cyclist shared use facilities. The research project helped inform the preparation of a new Local Transport Note on shared use routes for pedestrians and cyclists.
Shared use routes are designed to accommodate the movement of pedestrians and cyclists. Shared use schemes require careful consideration and this Local Transport Note provides advice on their planning, design and provision. It suggests a scheme development process to help in deciding if shared use is appropriate for any given situation and stresses the importance of high quality inclusive design that addresses the needs of all users. It places particular emphasis on involving users, residents, and other stakeholders in the design process.
