TWO.. Providing for cycling

Drivers... ...will only be tempted out of their cars if they see a better alternative. Cycling infrastructure that looks unsafe, is inappropriate, or appears slower than going by car will not encourage people to leave their cars at home and hop on a bike instead – only high-quality cycling conditions will tempt more people out of their cars.

Different forms of provision are suitable in different places and planners need to think as carefully about infrastructure for cyclists as they do for drivers.

The Campaign isn’t simply seeking miles of new cycle track or red tarmac on the roads, but suitable high-quality infrastructure that’s designed to meet the needs of cyclists wherever they may be. The first priority is to make the roads as cycle-friendly as possible before considering forcing cyclists onto pavements. Even busy roads and junctions can be tamed to a certain extent by the provision of wide cycle lanes and hybrid cycle lanes with good visibility and directness.

Equally, small aspects of a cyclist’s journey, such as ease of crossing at busy roads, well maintained and well lit routes and (as far as possible) an obstruction-free environment also need to be carefully considered.

Finally, as with drivers, cyclists need safe and convenient facilities to park their bikes at the end of their trip. There’s little point in providing the best streets in the world if there’s nothing to attach a bike to at the end of the journey.

Following these principles, our plans as outlined in this document offer a coherent way of addressing the transport needs of cyclists and drivers alike and a vision that, if addressed correctly, can become reality by 2020.

• Space is the key
• Hybrid cycle lanes [Case study]
• What about off-road provision?