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Out of date on Regulations (as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

Thanks

phil@philjonesassociates.co.uk

Twitter.com/Phil_PJA

0121 475 0234