Disillusion sets in as this New Labour Government proves to be as unwilling to spend money on cycling facilities as the previous Tory administration. In what follows your political sensibilities may be hurt. Please don't take umbrage, I do not have a Party Political agenda of any sort, my only concern is to improve the lot of the cyclist, and also that of the environment.

I had hoped that we would see some real progress following the change in government, but that has not been forthcoming. I perceive there to be several difficulties: -

• There are those in power who feel that cycling is a marginal activity, largely undertaken by unrepresentative types. They don't see any political mileage in pandering to our needs. Ever heard of a "focus group" of cyclists being invited to Downing Street? Perhaps there are a lot of people in the Labour movement who see cycling as the poor man's way to get to work, something that is best forgotten, or maybe they feel that only middle class twits ride bikes.
• There is a genuine desire to see an improvement in the accident figures relating to road traffic, and there exists a government target to reduce road deaths and serious injuries by 40% by 2010. As well as being a very desirable social outcome, this is also a useful statistic for political posturing. It is felt, and I guess correctly so, that an increase in cycling will see a rise in the accident statistics, something that our self confessed alcoholic friend 14 pints "don't be vague" would use to beat the government with. (In 1999 it was estimated that the number of cycle journeys increased by 8%, but the number of cyclists killed went up by 9% - The Times 29/9/2000).
• The government is running scared of the motorist, this latest fuel tax fiasco (and no, I don’t approve of the activity of a small band of anarchists) has seriously damaged New Labour's chances of re-election. They will have to give in to the motoring lobby over this and will be extremely sensitive of doing anything to hurt Joe Motorist in future. Transfer funds from road to cycle way construction - not a chance.
• The present government is still firmly wedded to the Unions, they turned out to be one of their few allies when the chips were down over fuel prices. Our other friend "Two Jags Mr P" is a firm believer in public transport (for others) and I fear that any increase in transport spending will be on those services, bus, rail etc. that keep the Unions sweet. I do approve of improved public transport, but I would like to see some of the cake going to cyclists and pedestrians.
• People are basically selfish, they don't want to pay taxes and they will not vote for a government that openly proposes to increase taxation. Both major parties have tried to side-step this by using tax by stealth. The large increase in the price of crude oil has made the indirect tax on fuel so apparent. Building cycle paths is relatively cheap, but they don't come free. No government that wants to be re-elected is going to spend more tax payers' money than it needs to, and the NHS/Education/Social Services/Pensions budgets together form a bottomless pit down which money disappears faster than you can throw it in.

Given this situation all appears to be lost! Well take heart, there have been achievements that would have been unthinkable ten or so years ago. Look at what Sustrans has done, while most towns now have some fairly basic cycling provision. What can you do? There is an election coming up. We need to put cycling on the agenda. Consider the following: -

• Write to all of your local candidates asking them specific questions about what they would do to improve the lot of the cyclist, should they be elected. Try to get them to give you some numbers. What percentage of all journeys do they think could be made by bicycle, what percentage of the transport budget should be earmarked for cycling? They will not commit themselves to anything even vaguely useful, but you will have made them think bike.
• You might try to get your local rag to publish an open letter on this subject. In the unlikely event of your obtaining a preposterous reply from (1) above, see if you can get it published.
• Write to your local councillors asking them for their views on cycle provision, try to identify some local cycling issue that you would like them to address.
• Don't forget to write to your local council officers, the un-elected civil servants who can influence the thinking of the politicians. Again pick a local issue to discuss.

Can you persuade friends or colleagues at work to write, if necessary give them a draft of a letter.

Can you organise a local cycle campaign group? Your local radio station/local paper might be prepared to give you a free plug, while the library should be prepared to display a poster.
 
 

What I would like to see

My problem stems from the fact that I was brought up in a largely car less society. Very few people could afford a car in the northern mining village where I was born in 1950. Tea was still delivered by horse and cart, while goods were still moved by rail and the three wheeled "Mechanical Horse" tractors used by British Railways would occasionally visit our street. The window cleaner carried his ladders on his bike, the rag and bone man used a horse and cart. We played football and other games in the streets, hardly bothered by vehicles. I walked and cycled everywhere, the bike was an extension of my own limbs, it was a natural means of transport that took me to school, to my friends' houses, or wherever I wanted to go. At the weekends the north Pennines and all of Northumberland were within cycling distance. The bicycle gave me freedom. I remember riding one night along the main Newcastle to Sunderland road, the A184, and becoming so mesmerised staring at the stars that I hit the kerb and fell off the bike - there was no traffic to distract my attention! In the mid 1960s I cycled to North Wales and back, and, choosing minor roads for the trip, we hardly noticed the traffic. Then I learned to drive! Coming back to cycling after a gap of about 12 years I was appalled at the change in the road conditions, the density of traffic, and the speed of the cars. That was perhaps 20 years ago, and things have got infinitely worse since.

Now we can never have back that which has gone, many people are now so dependent upon the car that they cannot envisage life without it. People have chosen to live distant from their workplaces, and from the shops or places of entertainment. Other people have change thrust upon them, my wife has had her place of work changed so that she has to commute about 18 miles each way and it takes about 2 hours to get there by a variety of buses. In practical terms she has got to use a car. Just as the car crept up on us through the 60s and 70s, I would like to think that we can gradually lose our dependence on it over a period of years. Lifestyle choices should increasingly be influenced by the proximity of work, facilities, good public transport, or safe cycle routes. The rising cost of fossil fuel will play its part in deterring the motorist, but we cannot expect major changes to occur overnight.

In a perfect world, we would have a change in the law so that any motorist who hit a cyclist or pedestrian would be in fear of a severe penalty. In urban areas, road traffic would be constrained to 20 mph, while out of town there would be separate cycle tracks, with a tarmac surface equal to that used on the roads, and regularly swept. Every major town and all cities would have substantial motorised traffic free zones. Cycling down country lanes would be made much safer by a blanket 30 mph speed limit, with lower limits where hazards exist, e.g. blind bends. In certain areas, e.g. parts of the Lake District, only the local people or those delivering essential services would be able to use cars. Casual visitors would use park and ride, bus, train, walk or BIKE!

Cars would be used for longish journeys, and would be allowed to stretch their legs on the motorways, but they should not be allowed to spoil people's lives in and around where they live. Shopping can and should be delivered by electric vehicles, with a maximum speed of 20 mph. A return to local shop culture, and walking to the shops, might mean more people on the streets, less crime, and a more healthy society. Children should walk or cycle to school, and their parents live close enough to their places of work to enable them to do the same.

OK this is my Utopia, what can be achieved in practice?
 

Some key issues

• The introduction of a blanket 20 mph speed limit in all residential streets (it is 30 km/hr [19mph] in much of continental Europe). Local authorities have the authority to impose this limit, but are not required to do so.
• The construction of cycle friendly traffic calming devices, e.g. chicanes with separate cycle lanes.
• More town centre roads closed to motorised traffic except perhaps buses or trams.
• The provision of good quality, direct, evenly graded, well surfaced, lit, and properly maintained separate cycle paths.
• The provision of more cyclist and pedestrian controlled road crossings.
• The prosecution of motorists who are involved in accidents in which pedestrians or cyclists are killed or seriously injured. Typically a motorist who kills a cyclist after speeding through a residential area is fined £100. In mainland Europe they could face a prison sentence, while the onus of proof lies with the motorist there, they are assumed guilty until proven innocent.
• There needs to be a change in driver attitudes towards speed and the safety of vulnerable road users. The "Kill Your Speed" campaign is a step in the right direction, but more needs to be done. The drink driving campaign proved to be successful, what is needed is a larger advertising budget, backed by the threat of more severe penalties.
• The provision of secure cycle parking. In the Netherlands most major railway stations have large underground staffed cycle storage areas, while smaller stations have bike lockers.
• The carriage of bikes on trains, and light rail systems.
• The re-design of roundabouts so that entry and exit speeds are reduced.

A Sample Letter

(Focus on one issue, don't waffle, be polite and as positive as possible)

Dear Councillor XYZ,

I was very pleased to see the introduction of the BigBucks Supermarket in our town. It is a long overdue development that will bring jobs, increase choice, and lower prices for shoppers in the region.

I am concerned, however, that although there has been very generous provision made for motorists to park, both pedestrians and cyclists seem to have been forgotten in this development. There is already a noticeable increase in road traffic through the town as a result of the store's opening, and the once quiet road leading to the store is now heavily used. I notice that elderly people, and parents with young children, are having great difficulty in crossing the road.

Would it be possible to consider some of the following measures?

• Impose a 20 mph speed limit on the approach road as it passes through the town.
• Install pedestrian operated traffic light controlled crossings so that people can cross the road in safety
• Provide secure bicycle parking facilities at the store, preferably using a staffed enclosure
• The increasing traffic density means that there are now no safe cycle routes from the several villages within five miles of the store. Would it be possible to construct separate cycle tracks from these outlying villages, so that those without access to a car can take full advantage of the excellent new facility?

I look forward to hearing from you

Yours sincerely,
 
 

BA

If you get a negative response, take your campaign to the local newspapers. Are there any like-minded individuals in your area who might be interested in forming a cycle campaign group?
 
 

Write a letter now!
 
 

If you would like to discuss any UK based cycle campaigning issue, please get in touch.

Got to Bryan's Bike Page.