Comments for Road Danger Reduction Forum

Comment on “Get Britain Cycling”: Are cyclists set to win? by Mike Chalkley

Mike Chalkley — Wed, 15 May 2013 07:39:17 +0000

Response from the Government on the e-petition reaching 10,000 signatures contains the following…
“In January we announced the Cycle City Ambition Grants and have invited cities outside London to bid for a share of a £42m grant. The guidance requires cities to demonstrate local leadership and set out a 10 year ambition for more cycling. Successful bids will receive a cycling budget equivalent to £10 per head, which is the level of support the APPCG inquiry report recommends. The £42m grant will also benefit National Parks who have been asked to develop schemes to improve cycling facilities to help support cycling as a fun leisure activity as well as a healthy way of getting around. ”
So… assuming a generous 3/4 of the grant will benefit non-parks projects, that’s 3 million people benefitting from a £10 per head investment. OR essentially, 50p per head of UK population! That’s 2% of the Dutch spend! – WOW — I stand corrected! :S

Comment on “Get Britain Cycling”: Is Chris Boardman right to be angry at the PM’s response? by The Ranty Highwayman

The Ranty Highwayman — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 12:58:46 +0000

The other problem is that politicians have no interest in small projects – they prefer big ticket schemes. While many really good schemes to improve subjective safety and permeability would be delivered locally, it needs leadership from the top which we do not have.

Comment on “Get Britain Cycling”: Are cyclists set to win? by rdrf

rdrf — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 22:03:40 +0000

It is £630 – not £63 – million Anthony. Still small, but not THAT small.

Anyway, more to come from me on this,
RD

Comment on “Get Britain Cycling”: Are cyclists set to win? by fonant

fonant — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 09:58:30 +0000

I understand it to be £10 per person in the UK (a bit less than half the Dutch spend rate). So a total budget of around £63 million per year for cycling. A drop in the ocean compared to total transport spending, but hugely useful for cycling.

Comment on “Get Britain Cycling”: Are cyclists set to win? by Mike Chalkley

Mike Chalkley — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 09:55:49 +0000

£10 per current cyclist is what is being proposed. Given an over-estimate of 2% modal share, this equates to a total spend of 1% of the Dutch spend.

Comment on “Get Britain Cycling”: Are cyclists set to win? by fonant

fonant — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 07:18:20 +0000

The Dutch had 26% modal share for cycling in 2009 across the whole country and for all journeys ( http://www.fietsberaad.nl/library/repository/bestanden/CyclingintheNetherlands2009.pdf) and much higher levels in towns. Almost everyone cycles daily, from school children to OAPs, and cycling for transport is so normal that they take it for granted.

The starting percentage is irrelevant unless you’re concerned about the rate of change: decent, safe, pleasant, convenient cycling (and less convenient motoring) will result in the same cycling modal share in the UK as they enjoy in the Netherlands. If riding a bike becomes the best choice for local transport for the 60% of the population, then 60% of the population will ride their bikes for local transport.

The UK can get to Dutch levels of cycling much quicker, and at much lower total cost, than the Dutch did. We have the benefit that we know for certain what works: the Dutch have done the decades of real world research already.

British human beings are no more or less likely to choose to travel by bicycle than Dutch human beings: we are the same species. The terrible road environment is the single biggest barrier to people using bicycles for transport here, as many national surveys, and much academic research, have found.

Comment on “Get Britain Cycling”: Are cyclists set to win? by rdrf

rdrf — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 23:57:40 +0000

I agree with your last paragraph.

I don’t think the Dutch got 25% – they already had at least 10%, they only increased by about 10 – 15%, possibly only 5%?.

Maybe I’m just pesimistic.

Comment on “Get Britain Cycling”: Are cyclists set to win? by fonant

fonant — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 15:14:47 +0000

Why are these targets of 10% and 25% in 37 years considered ambitious? They may well be compared to previously feeble targets in the UK, but the Dutch managed to get to 25% and more in less than 37 years, and we can learn from the real-world work they’ve already done. We could build proven-to-be-safe and proven-to-generate-30%-modal-share bicycle facilities today, if we wanted to.

I would reckon, given the huge suppressed demand for cycling and ever-increasing costs of fuel, that it should be quite possible to get to 25% in ten years given suitable investment levels. Do we really have to wait nearly another two generations before cycling is normal and commonplace?

Political will, leading to serious investment is still the problem: £10 per person is less than half what the Dutch spend, and they already have their cycle network in place: their expenditure is on improvements and new routes, not in making a new network. We have to spend MORE than the Dutch if we are to ever catch them up!

GBC is a positive step in the right direction, but if we really do want to achieve mass cycling on a European scale it’s rather weak: especially since we can be sure that actual investment levels will fall below those called for.

It’s a good report. We’ll have to see whether our political leaders think that there are enough votes in the issue to take any notice of it.

Comment on Mayor Johnson’s “Vision for Cycling in London”: Part Four by rdrf

rdrf — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 01:01:35 +0000

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT
At present we are not taking comments on http://www.rdrf.org.uk (For discussion see http://rdrf.org.uk/2012/12/07/welcome-to-the-refurbished-site/#more-877 )

However your comment has been read and noted.

Mike, I have now read it in full – very interesting.

Dr. Robert Davis, Chair, Road Danger Reduction Forum

Comment on Mayor Johnson’s “Vision for Cycling in London”: Part Two by rdrf

rdrf — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 01:00:07 +0000

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT
At present we are not taking comments on http://www.rdrf.org.uk (For discussion see http://rdrf.org.uk/2012/12/07/welcome-to-the-refurbished-site/#more-877 )

However your comment has been read and noted.

Gerhard, thanks for this – glad you agree abouthome aprking. I hope all goes well back in austria and it would eb good if you keep up your interest in cycling in London,
best,
BOB

Dr. Robert Davis, Chair, Road Danger Reduction Forum