Yorkshire cycling website
27th June 2018
Chris Boardman, © TFGM
Chris Boardman today announced the first step in implementing his Made to Move vision for Greater Manchester. It's called Beelines, and it's a detailed, Greater Manchester-wide walking and cycling infrastructure proposal.
The intention is to create the most comprehensive network in Britain, covering 1,000 miles. The plan has been produced in collaboration with the ten local authorities concerned.
Boardman has identified that 80% of roads in Greater Manchester are fairly quiet (less than 6 cars a minute). Beelines concentrates on safe crossing points for people to get over busy main roads on foot or by bike, so they can use the existing quiet network. It can be done in less than 2 years.
The crossing points will be accompanied by Beelines signage, which will be trusted route that can be used by people walking and cycling.
The Beelines report sets out the details of the proposal.
The report begins by reiterating the reasons why changes to the way we travel are needed - obesity, air quality, and congestion - and states the objective of a fully joined up cycling and walking network covering 1,000 miles.
The Mayor Andy Burnham has allocated £160 million to kick-start the project, which amounts to spend of £15 per head per year. This is close to the levels of investment in Amsterdam and Copenhagen. Boardman hopes to add to the money by seeking match funding from central government, and with other innovative strategies.
Visualisation of a busy road, © TFGM
The idea is to make walking and cycling routes that appeal to the two thirds of people who currently use a car as their main mode of transport. The report notes that 80% of cycling trips in Amsterdam happen on unsegregated roads. Boardman says that strategic crossing points will unlock the potential of local roads and communities to be used for cycling and walking.
The network has been created by Greater Manchester's local authorities: 'The networks were drawn collaboratively by council officers, local highways engineers, as well as local cycling, walking, and community groups. And crucially, they held the pen; another UK first.' There were practical cycling and walking planning sessions in March and April 2018.
Beelines are defined in the report (p11) as 'routes that get people from A to B, connecting up communities across the whole of Greater Manchester. They can be a fully segregated route or a network connected via a series of crossing points on quieter roads. They are a marker for quality and 1,000 miles of routes will be delivered if this proposal is fully realised.'
Zebra crossing at a side road © TFGM
The quieter roads require less design intervention, but will get zebra crossings of side roads to promote courteous driver behaviour and give pedestrians priority; there will be filtered routes, which cut out through traffic, but allow cycling and walking; ideally, 20mph speed limits will be put in place; off road green routes may be considered.
Filtered neighbourhood, © TFGM
On main arteries, walking and cycling routes will be fully segregated. Many junctions will require major interventions, and ensuring the design is of a high standard is 'critical is we are to create trust in the network'. This may mean innovative junction design is necessary to 'meet the level of service needed to enable significant modal shift'. 75 miles of fully segregated routes on busy roads are proposed.
Town centre improvements will include parallel signalised or zebra crossings for cycling and walking.
Beelines crossing point, © TFGM
There are maps showing the proposed network.
The report sets out design principles, which will support the ambition to transform the way the streets in Greater Manchester operate, and make a shift from private car to walking and cycling.
The principles include:
The worker bee symbol is to be used as part of the wayfinding system.
Worker bee symbol, © TFGM
It symbolises Greater Manchester's aspiration to become greener, cleaner, and more biodiverse. It has been adapted a little: the bee features handlebars on the antennae, and zebra crossings on its wings.
Spending decisions will be taken by a new Greater Manchester Cycling and Walking Board. A commitment to maintenance will be essential in any successful application for funding. TFGM and the local authorities will collaborate with police on enforcement of pavement parking and speed limits.
Interested local people will be invited to participate in project planning and delivery. The first iteration of the network map is to be published online using mappingGM.org. There's to be a behaviour change programme including advertising campaigns, school workshops, and business engagement.
16th December 2017
Manchester cycle & footpath, by Pete Birkinshaw, Licence CC BY 2.0
In his first action as Cycling & Walking Commissioner for Greater Manchester, Chris Boardman has set out an ambitious vision to transform the way people travel in Greater Manchester. He plans a high-quality cycle network throughout the area, with continuous, joined-up provision.
Read about Chris Boardman's Made to Move report.
17th March 2018
Jesse Norman, minister for cycling at the DfT, is asking for ideas to make cycling and walking safer. Probably the DfT should know how to do this already - after all, organisations like British Cycling and Cycling UK have been telling them for years, but unfortunately they haven't been listening. Will the DfT actually act on what they're told? Who knows, but if you have any interest in active travel, you should respond.
Read about the CWIS consultation, and follow the link to the consultation.
© 2018 HedgehogCycling
Template design by Andreas
Viklund