CYCLING - WHY THE LOW PRIORITY IN PLANNING?

A criticism is made of the low priority given to cycling in many local authority plans and the apathy shown towards making cycling safer, when in fuel conservation terms it has so many advantages. It is felt that the reasons lie in the general belief that cyclists are an insignificant and cranky minority. However it is argued that where cycling facilities are provided and/or improved the number of cyclists increased. Schemes in Oxford, Peterborough and Cambridge are described to illustrate this point. Preliminary findings of the monitoring by TRRL of the Peterborough scheme are showing the experiment to be a great success. The apparent lack of planning for cyclists despite their successes is blamed on 4 factors: plans take too narrow a view of transportation - interpreting the situation solely in terms of the established modes of transport; confused and contradictory legislation; only belated awareness by government; and perhaps most importantly the question of political commitment - cycling not being seen as a vote catching issue - especially in local government. (TRRL)

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/03091384
• Corporate Authors:

  Royal Town Planning Institute

  26 Portland Place
  London W1N 4BE,   England 
• Authors:
  • Coleman, H
• Publication Date: 1980-3-4

Media Info

• Features: Photos; References;
• Pagination: p. 45-46
• Serial:
  • Planner
  • Volume: 66
  • Issue Number: 2
  • Publisher: Royal Town Planning Institute
  • ISSN: 0309-1384

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bikeways; Cyclists; Energy conservation; Laws; Local government; Local government agencies; Planning; Safety; Strategic planning; Transportation planning; Urban transportation
• Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
• ITRD Terms: 2722: Cycle track; 1742: Cyclist; 212: Energy conservation; 192: Local authority; 143: Planning; 1665: Safety; 8119: United Kingdom
• Subject Areas: Energy; Environment; Highways; Law; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Planning and Forecasting; Safety and Human Factors; Terminals and Facilities; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00322150
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: May 21 1981 12:00AM