What will really make a difference for cycling

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What will really make a difference for cycling?
Sustainable Land Transport Conference 21-24
November 2004

• Presentation by
• Jane Dawson
• Cycling Advocates Network

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The possibilities are exciting ...

• Significant changes in the transport agencies
• NZ Transport Strategy
• Arrival of Land Transport NZ
• Other government policies are being developed
• NZ Health Strategy
• Climate change response
• Emphasis on joined-up policy initiatives

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but little change is detectable

• Change is happening at a high level
• Changes in emphasis not translating to visible
  changes
• Difficult to build support for changes when they
  remain theoretical

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What would make a real difference?

• Asked for response from both cyclists and
  non-cyclists
• What would make the difference for you?
• If the transport fairy granted you 3 wishes,
  what would they be?

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Responses

• Passionate
• Good range of suggestions
• Particular problems, but can be categorised
• Reasonable quests, often easy to address

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Issues not dealt with

• How to cater for cycling
• Why cycling should be encouraged

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Categorising responses

• Typical categories
• Match more rigorous research
• Could be used by official agencies for quick
  information-gathering

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What is a cycle-friendly environment?

• Easy as!
• No barriers, no excuses
• No Worries
• Feel safe, comfortable
• Way to go!
• Awareness, mainstreaming solutions
• Support services
• Give incentives, encouragement

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Different cyclists, different needs

• Regular cyclists
• Assertive
• Looking for a pleasant trip
• Occasional cyclists
• Street-wise
• Full protection
• Fluid categories

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Main requests

• Supportive infrastructure
• Reduced level of intimidation
• Awareness campaigns acknowledge existence of
  cyclists
• Legislative framework to promote needs of
  cyclists
• Incentive programmes
• Good integration with public transport

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Quick easy - do now! (1)

• Audit all projects for cycle-friendliness

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Quick easy - do now! (1)

• Audit all projects for cycle-friendliness

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Quick easy - do now! (2)

• Advance Stop Lines waiting boxes

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Quick easy - do now! (3)

• Cycle detection at traffic signals

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Quick easy - do now! (4)

• Restore surfaces after road works
• If not possible immediately, protect the site
• Potentially lethal at night

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Quick easy - do now! (5)

• Sweeping maintenance on-road

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Quick easy - do now! (6)

• Lighting maintenance off-road

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Quick easy - do now! (7)

• Signage maps

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Quick easy - do now! (8)

• Share the Road promotions, education

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Quick easy - do now! (9)

• Parking enforcement, education

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Quick easy - do now! (10)

• Road Code, driver education

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Quick easy - do now! (11)

• Cycle-Friendly Employers
• www.sparc.govt.nz
• Bike To Work Days
• www.bikewise.co.nz

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Quick easy - do now! (12)

• Good quality cycle parking

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Will take longer, but start now (1)

• Reduce traffic speeds
• Benefits all road users
• School zones

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Will take longer, but start now (2)

• Good quality surfaces

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Will take longer, but start now (3)

• Safe Routes to School programmes

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Will take longer, but start now (4)

• Minimum passing clearance
• As enforceable as many other rules
• Useful rule of thumb for drivers

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Will take longer, but start now (5)

• Allow bike racks on buses

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Fundamental issue, shows serious intent (1)

• Clear implementation plans for NZTS
• NWCS monitoring
• A draft is better than a blank

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Fundamental issue, shows serious intent (2)

• Promote good facility design
• Train designers decision-makers
• Ensure standards guidelines are set and
  used
• Monitoring of compliance

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Fundamental issue, shows serious intent (3)

• Legal framework to put responsibility on those
  creating risks to others
• Minimum lateral passing distance
• Ban window tinting

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Make eye contact?
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Fundamental issue, shows serious intent (3)

• Legal framework to put responsibility on those
  creating risks to others
• Minimum lateral passing distance
• Ban window tinting
• Put onus of proof on drivers

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Fundamental issue, shows serious intent (4)

• Acceptance of cyclist priority at key locations,
  for safety convenience

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Fundamental issue, shows serious intent (5)

• Promotion of cycling
• Show that it is possible
• Promote the benefits
• Secure funding streams for activities
• Inter-disciplinary collaboration
• Social marketing is a specific skill

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Fundamental issue, shows serious intent (6)

• Improve response to reported crashes
  near-misses
• Police priorities better aligned to NZTS
• Recognise under-reporting problem
• Develop case law

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Fundamental issue, shows serious intent (7)

• Encourage private organisations to support
  cycling
• Make contestable funding available for facilities
  and programmes
• Local authority requirements to provide cycle
  parking

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Plan to do - build into work programmes (1)

• Cycle lanes and paths
• People want them
• Must connect to something
• Social safety addressed
• Promotional role

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Plan to do - build into work programmes (2)

• Small cycle facilities
• Access through road closures
• Contra-flow lanes
• Kerb-protected waiting bays
• Crossing points

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Plan to do - build into work programmes (3)

• Eliminate identified hazards
• Angle parking

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Plan to do - build into work programmes (3)

• Eliminate identified hazards
• Angle parking
• Pinch points
• Kerb build-outs
• Parking at key points
• Badly positioned maintained drain gratings
• Roundabouts, unless 20 km/hr design speed
• Service covers
• Free left turns

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Plan to do - build into work programmes (4)

• Low-speed traffic zones
• Nice environment for cycling in can be all thats
  needed
• Non-cycling benefits
• Reduced crashes
• Attractive to shoppers

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Plan to do - build into work programmes (5)

• Improved access to public transport
• Trains
• Provide space on board
• Free for bikes
• Sign the access points
• Buses
• Good routes for cycling to stations
• Secure cycle storage at stations stops

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Keep up the momentum

• Cyclists see strategies being developed
• Many local authorities
• National strategy imminent
• No change in their daily journey
• Same hazards, same attitudes
• Even small improvements can make a big
  psychological difference

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Recommendations

• Ask local cyclists what would make a difference
  to their trip
• Use a Cycling Strategy to programme the bigger
  projects
• Just do it for the smaller items
• dont waste time, energy, goodwill haggling
• cheaper to do them as standard practice

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What will really make a difference for cycling?
Sustainable Land Transport Conference 21-24
November 2004

• Presentation by
• Jane Dawson
• Cycling Advocates Network