phil jones 3 feb15 newcastle cycling symposium
TRANSCRIPT
Sustrans Mini-Conference
Newcastle, 3 February 2015
Developments in UK Cycling Design Standards and Guidance
Overview
Laws, Standards and Guidance
What’s Old?
What’s New?
What’s Coming?
What Difference Will It All Make?
Law, Standards and Guidance
Law – Mandatory for authorities to comply
– Traffic Signs Regulations, Highways Act etc
Standards – The design policies of an
organisation – Authorities free to adopt which standards they
feel appropriate, but not illegal to deviate from them when circumstances dictate
Guidance – Good practice
– Can come from many sources, including Government, often contradictory.
What’s Old?
LTN 2/08
Still good in parts…but
Planning emphasis on
Hierarchy of Provision
Cycle tracks = shared use
On-road generally preferred
Few innovations
Out of date on Regulations (as
of March)
What’s Old?
LTN 1/12
Includes Segregated Cycle
tracks, but still “shared use”
Negative on white lines
Preference for on-road
provision maintained
Modified HoP
Hybrid (stepped) tracks
introduced
What’s New?
New Regulations – March 2015
Welsh Active Travel Act
● Passed by Welsh Assembly 2 October 2013
● Came into force 25 September 2014
● Supported by Delivery and Design Guidance
● World’s first?
Main Requirements of the Act
● Local authorities to map existing provision for Active Travel (the
‘Existing Routes Map’) and proposed future provision (the
‘Integrated Network Map’)
● Existing Routes Map in < 1 year,
Integrated Network Map in < 3 years
● Mapping to cover areas designated by Welsh Ministers.
● Local authorities must submit statement to which any routes shown
do not conform to standards specified in guidance given by
Ministers
● General duties on local and national Government to enhance
provision for Active Travel
So what’s Active Travel?
Active Travel Route: 2 (6)
In considering whether it is appropriate for a route to be regarded as an
active travel route, a local authority must take into account—
(a) whether the route facilitates the making by, or by any description
of, walkers and cyclists of active travel journeys, and
(b) whether the location, nature and condition of the route make it
suitable for safe use by, or by any description of, walkers and cyclists
for the making of such journeys,
and must have regard to guidance given by the Welsh Ministers.
So what’s an Active Travel Journey?
Active Travel Journey: 2 (7)
In this Act “active travel journey” means a journey made to or from a
workplace or educational establishment or in order to access health,
leisure or other services or facilities..
So – Active Travel = walking and cycling
Active Travel Route must facilitate safe use for Active Travel Journeys,
which are for everyday purposes – utility, not recreation
● First Integrated Network Map to be produced within three years of
Act coming into force, ie 24 September 2017
● A 15 year plan for delivery
● Ranging from ‘shovel ready’ schemes to longer term intentions
● Completed schemes appear on updated Existing Routes Map
● After the first pair of maps, both will be produced on a 3-year rolling
cycle
Integrated Network Map
● Welsh Ministers and Local Authorities must, when creating,
maintaining and improving highways, acquiring land etc (so far as
practicable) take reasonable steps to enhance the provision made
for walkers and cyclists.
● And in exercising functions under:
– Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (traffic regulations, parking etc)
– New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 (street works)
– Traffic Management Act 2004 (network management)
● Cycle proofing! Walk Proofing!
General Duty to Enhance Provision
● Continuous improvement – must be new and improved active
travel routes and related facilities every year.
● Local authorities have general duty to promote active travel and
securer new/improve routes
● Must report each year on performance in this duty
● Ministers to publish annual reports on number of active travel
journeys
General Duties
Guidance and Standards
● Delivery Guidance stipulates how Local Authorities will
meet the Act – how maps look, are consulted on
published etc,
● Design Guidance sets requirements for routes to
appear on the maps
● Both will be published by Welsh Ministers
Design Guidance - Content
Introduction
Legal and Policy Frameworks
Consultation
User Needs
Network Planning
Network Design
Integration with Other Modes
Related Facilities
Creating and Improving Highways
Construction, Maintenance and Management
Monitoring and Evaluation
Design Elements Details
Audit Tools
User Needs
● Pedestrians and Cyclists, including people with disabilities
● 5 ‘Dutch’ criteria – routes for all groups should be
o Direct
o Coherent
o Safe
o Comfortable
o Attractive
Network Planning
Structured around Dutch Design Manual for Bicycle Traffic
Motor traffic management
Mesh of routes
Primary and secondary routes
Plan for anticipated demand
CIHT planning guide
Network Design
Big task!
Pedestrian and Cycle Infrastructure
Key criteria for design of networks/routes
General path, track and lane widths
Filtered permeability and speed management
Junctions and crossings
Etc etc!!!
Design Elements Details
Allowing for Innovation
• Audit tools – based on LCDS
• Cycling – max score 50, must achieve 35 to be on the maps
Substantial revision of 2005
version
Segregation depends on
context and street type, not
traffic flow.
Route planning from network
analysis, not assessment of
potential demands
Strong on audit tools
Strong on innovation
London-specific definitions
(Superhighway, Quietway)
LCDS 2014
Each to their own…
CCAG Cities’ Guidance
Long-standing commitment
Overtaken by authorities’
standards?
Sustrans new manual
What’s Coming?
In progress!
DMRB –
Interim Advice Note
Multiplicity of Design Guidance and Standards
Not ideal
Filling a vacuum left by central Government
It’s where we are…
How much does it matter?
Are Guidance and Standards a magic bullet?
● Funding
● Remaining regulatory difficulties
● Culture and practice
● Need for training
● Public attitudes
● Political will