2015

Where did Space for Cycling come from?

London, 2013• 20 year old Philippine de Gerin-Ricard killed by a lorry while riding a ‘Boris bike’• London Cycling Campaign organise a mass peaceful protest ride.•1500 people ride to call for safe ‘space for cycling’•The day after the ride Alan Neve killed by a tipper truck while on his way to work.•A second mass protest ride is organised, this time attracting 2500.•A third ride is organised, 5000 people ride to Parliament to demand safe space for cycling.

In September 2013 FIVE THOUSAND people rode to Westminster to call for safe Space for Cycling.

In May 2014 they did it again...

But this time they weren’t alone....

Big Rides took place across the UK as CTC took the campaign national. Newcastle, Leeds, Manchester, Bristol, Birmingham...

...and of course Sheffield!

This year, our Big Ride will be even BIGGER and even BETTER.

It will be the finale to an ambitious political campaign where we will persuade our local politicians to deliver real change in Sheffield.

Benefits etc

But first...

Let’s look at what Space for Cycling actually means in real life, and why we need it.

Cycling & the liveable city

•Economy: People who use cycles for transport shop more regularly and are more likely to shop locally.

•Congestion: Cycling is often quicker than driving in urban areas. 60% of car trips are five miles or less..

•Environment: Sheffield has been named by the WHO as breaching safety guidelines for air pollution. In Sheffield poor air quality contributes to the premature deaths of 500 people every year.

•Health: Cycling incorporates physical activity into everyday travel.

Cycling helps boost the economy, cut congestion, improve health and reduce pollution.

If making a journey by bike is to be a realistic choice, routes must be –

• Direct, door to door

• Suitable for all ages and abilities.

• Safe, convenient and enjoyable.

The greater the advantages of cycling, the more people will choose it.

Who should we design for?Current standard of cycle facilities are designed for ‘cyclists’.• Fit, fast, confident and assertive • Rides a standard two-wheel cycle

Instead, facilities must be designed for

PEOPLE WHO DON’T CYCLE (or at least not in the UK)

Want to travel at my own pace.Not as manoeuvrable as I used to be.Worried about hurting myself.

My car is quick, it’s convenient and it’s comfortable.I want to arrive at work relaxed.

Want my child to be safe.Need to travel at my child’s pace.Want my child to be able to make a simple mistake without it leading to serious injury.

What does Space for Cycling mean in practice?

Protected Space on main roads & through junctions

Main roads are often the quickest route from A to B.

• Physical protection preferred.The higher the traffic volumes and speeds, the more important this is.• Permeable protectionOK at lower speeds. Flexible and adaptable, cheaper.

Partial protection (London)•Busy streets with low speeds•Cheaper/easier

Kerb separation (Bristol)•At road level but with buffer

Raised roadside bike path (Leicester)•At pavement level•Not part of road

Routes in green spaces complement a cycle-friendly road network

These should supplement direct routes along main roads. (They are NOT an alternative to them!)

Usable for leisure but also daily journeys.Must be well maintained.Good surface.Well lit.

Light traffic at low speeds

On residential roads where separation of bicycle and motor traffic isn’t possible, reduce the speed and volume of motor traffic.

Great cycle and walking routes can be created by closing a rat-run while leaving a cycle gap. This may require no more than bollards.

20mph Chichester

Play Streets, Bristolwww.bristol.gov.uk

Children playing in their street (Gouda, Netherlands)

People-friendly Town Centres

A good quality urban environment prioritises walking & cycling.

Public spaces which are not dominated by motor traffic encourage people to spend time there.

Make sure city centres are still open to bikes by - • Allowing courteous cycling in pedestrianised areas• Allowing two-way cycling along one-way streets

Removal of traffic in Leicester City CentreLeicester City Council

New Road, Brighton BEFOREwww.transportxtra.com

New Road, Brighton AFTERwww.transportxtra.com

Safe Routes to SchoolsMany Sheffield schools offer cycle training but for the majority of parents, allowing children to ride bikes to school is a terrifying and unrealistic proposition.

There are so many hazards oneven a short journey.

Percentage of children cycling to school, European Cyclists’ Federation

Children cycling to school in the Netherlands, Alternative DFT

There are 3 primary schools within a 1 mile radius of central Hillsborough

Space for Cycling can make Sheffield’s children happier and healthier.

How do we know Space for Cycling works?

In Copenhagen 50% of people commute by bike every day.

But it’s not just the usual suspects in Northern Europe...

•Seville in Spain has increased cycling tenfold in just 6 years with an 80 mile network of well connected cycle paths.• New York City has doubled the number of people commuting by bike in just 4 years.

Rush hour in Copenhagen Wikpedia

New York, USAwww.peopleforbikes.org

Seville, Spainwww.velocity2012.blogspot.com

Why is the UK so behind in comparison?2013 ‘Get Britain Cycling’ Report recommended cycle spending of £10-20 per person per year.Sheffield currently spends £1.89 per head on capital funding for cycling.

Cycling still seen as a sport or leisure activity and not perceived as being part of ‘transport’.

How does Sheffield compare to other UK cities?

In January 2013 Norman Baker launched Cycle City Ambition Grants. £30 million (later upped to £77 million) of funding ambitious cycle schemes.

Sheffield was the only large city that failed to submit a bid.

ManchesterLeedsBirminghamNewcastleNorwichCambridgeOxfordBristol

Construction in the successful cities is underway. The cycle infrastructure they are building is at the cutting edge of what we have seen in the UK.

But not in Sheffield

Benefits etc

So, why is Sheffield lagging behind?

To find the answer, we need to look at how decisions related to highways are made and how we can influence them.

Every single road in Sheffield is under the control of Sheffield City Council.(except the M1 motorway)

Central Government can provide funding and design standards but they do not have any direct control over specific highways projects in Sheffield.

How are local highways decisions made?

How are local highways decisions made?

Leigh BramallLocal Councillor for

Southey ward

Every single major road or road alteration scheme goes across his desk & must be signed off by him.

Such as - Penistone Road Pinch Points Scheme-A major remodelling of the road to the detriment of the pedestrian environment & a big missed opportunity to improve the cycling environment. Ongoing disruption & debris on cycle path.

How are local highways decisions made?

Leigh BramallLocal Councillor for

Southey ward

How can we persuade him to push for more emphasis on walking & cycling within the Highways Department?

•It’s quite natural that a cycle campaign group will want to improve road schemes for cyclists. But we are minority and therefore are often ignored.

•We need to make sure the pressure for change comes from multiple sources, not just Cycle Sheffield. A way to achieve this is for other local councillors get in touch with him on the behalf of their constituents.

But the problem is that once local councillors are in office we have little leverage over them. Many of them belong to the same party as the Cabinet

Member for Highways & may not want to rock the boat.

The council is Labour-dominated, and it’s difficult to get anything other than a template party response from Labour councillors on cycling issues. There is no incentive for Labour councillors to push forward on cycling.

They don’t need anything from us and so we have no leverage over them.

So, we must look to a group of people who do need something from us.

Our votes.

Vote for me! Vote for me!Vote for me! Vote for me!

The 2015 campaign will target local councillor CANDIDATES,

who have more to gain and less at stake than those already in post.

We’ll ask candidates to pledge to support a specific improvement in their ward, one for each of Sheffield’s 28 wards.

Broomhill WardCreate safe space for cycling on Crookes Valley road.

Central WardPrevent rat running through Kelham Island.

Manor Castle WardReduce speed on X street to 20mph

The 28 improvements will be based on the 6 principles of Space for Cycling.

Tell us what needs improving in your area!

To make an impact, we need a large number of people to contact the candidates in their ward and ask them to pledge to support the ward improvement.

They will do this using an easy to use website.

Enabling Mass Participation for Maximum Impact

Website allows you to... -Type in your postcode and find out who is standing in your ward.

-View details of the suggested improvement in your ward.

-See if any candidates in your ward are supporting it.

- Send a customisable email asking candidates to support the improvement.

We’ll create a sense of competition amongst candidates by letting them know when their rivals sign up.

I support Space for Cycling!Hmmm.... I’d better do so too.

We’ll also invite them to take part in our Big Ride, and bring their families.

But what about MPs?

MPs = part of the long term solution.But things CANNOT improve without a shift in attitude from

local councillors.

A nation-wide strategy for Space for Cycling is being discussed by CTC and Cyclenation.

It looks likely that it may focus on MPs or MP candidates before or after the General Election.

Cycle Sheffield is open to tying in with the national campaign, but that alone would have little effect in Sheffield where..

• Our major obstacles are all LOCAL and within council control.•MPs have little influence over local highways decision making.

Can individual councillors really make a difference?

Before: Whole width given over to motor traffic. One way.

After: Raised contraflow cycle track added. Now two way for bikes.

Thanks to Councillor Ben Curran who responded to Matt’s request for Hillsborough Bridge to be made two way for bikes, and made it happen!!!!

We need your help to increase local participation!

We need local knowledge and local campaigners to make this city-wide campaign a success.

Can you help us?

We need local volunteers to spread the word in their home wardsWe’re looking for local people to join Ward Teams: small groups of people who’ll work together to build support for Space for Cycling in your local area by..

• Increasing the number of people who contact their candidates using the website• Increasing the number of people from your ward who join in with our Big Ride

Ward TeamsCan you work with other people to...

•Spend half an hour flyering houses on your street?•Take posters into local shops on your lunch break?•Put an advert for our Big Ride in your school newsletter or work messageboard?•Organise a local event?

We want you to have fun and be creative. If you’ve got a great idea for a way to spread the word then let us know and we will try & help you make it happen.

Ideally we’d like to have a small group of volunteers in every ward in Sheffield.

Timescales and Big Ride dateCampaign TimescaleBy W/C 23rd Feb: Ward Teams and S4C core team volunteers recruited

W/C 16th March: Campaign Launch, Website goes live

Thurs 9th April: "Streetfilms: Inspiration For A More Liveable Sheffield‘ Festival of Debate film screening at Union Street Co-Works

Sat 25th April: The BIG RIDE!

Thurs 7th May: Election Day (Local & General)

TALK TO EMMAIf you’d like to help us, come and talk to Emma (if you don’t know what you want to do, that’s fine. Don’t be shy!)

Emma MetcalfeSpace for Cycling Lead, Cycle Sheffieldcraftybikegirl@gmail.com

Talk to us!

Huge thanks to the wonderful London Cycling Campaign and the very dedicated people at CTC and Cyclenation for their continuing help & inspiration.

TALK TO MATTGo and talk to Matt about what could be done in your area to make it more cycle-friendly. We need you to suggest the improvements which we’ll ask our local politicians to commit to.

Matt TurnerActivist and blogger, Cycle Sheffieldmatt@cyclesheffield.org.uk