The Government and the Highways Agency have committed to updating the design standards and regulations needed to "cycle-proof" Britain’s roads, according to British Cycling.
British Cycling said that the announcement, following a meeting on 29 October with transport secretary Patrick McLouglin, marks a "major step forward for the sport’s governing body’s campaign to make the safer roads for all cyclists".
Cycle-proofing is British Cycling’s term for the practice of ensuring that cycling is designed into all new roads, junctions and developments. The aim of cycle-proofing is to make travelling by bicycle a safe, convenient and desirable form of transport.
Chris Boardman MBE (pictured), British Cycling’s policy advisor, said: “I’m pleased that we’re now seeing the Government begin to implement the commitments made by the Prime Minister on 12 August.
"The scale of the task to make cycle proofing happen is significant however, that does not excuse the need to move fast on pushing through change. We cannot be waiting more than six months for these regulations to appear. The time to transform cycling in this country is – as the government has said – now.
"If the Government’s pledge to ‘make Britain a cycling nation to rival any of its European neighbours’ is to be realised, then there absolutely must be tangible targets to measure progress against and an on-going financial commitment."
British Cycling went on to say that the Highways Agency will be "updating its design standards and training for engineers", and that the DfT will be "as helpful as it could to allow the successful ‘Cycling Cities’ to build cycle infrastructure which is joined up, coherent and desirable".
Click here to read the full British Cycling news release.
Let’s hope that they will be adhered to better than the recommendations for proofing roads for the use of motorcyclists which has never been adopted as such. What a waste of a good paper that was. Maybe now they will recognise motorcycling as a minority and design roads more suitable for their usage. I can name quite a few things that need to be changed for their benefit and safety.
bob craven Lancs
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I think it is the Local Highways Authorities that most need to be (and hopefully are?) involved along with the Highways Agency – not much cycling on Motorways, although there is some on trunked A roads.
That said, I welcome the HA’s commitment to this additional training for their engineers and I hope they will cover the needs of all vulnerable road users, not just cyclists, who are significantly affected by any trunk road schemes that change or close local networks. This has not been an area of expertise for HA and their contractors in the past so this is positive progress and wider thinking that is very welcome.
Honor Byford, North Yorkshire
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