If Cyclings the Solution, whats the Problem

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If Cyclings the Solution, whats the Problem?

• Do we need an Urban Cycling Manifesto?
• Cycling as a solution Cyclenation, CTC, and
  Greater Manchester Cycling Campaign Spring
  Conference 2009
• Koy Thomson LCC CEO
• 30th May 2009

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Thirty spokes meet in the hub, but the empty
space between them is the essence of the wheel.
Pots are formed from clay, but the empty space
between it is the essence of the pot. Walls
with windows and doors form the house, but the
empty space within it is the essence of the
house Buildings cluster in the city but the
empty space between them is the essence of the
city Lao Tse b. 604BC (and Koy)
A sustainable public realm is the essence of the
good city
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• Cycling and walking unfriendliness is caused by a
  poor quality of the public realm
• The streets are public realm

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While there are many reasons for the decline in
the public realm the number one factor has been
the loss of streets and minds to the car
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Low ambitions for cycling towns and cities?
What counts?Doubling cycling?Cycle mode
share?The street environment?
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The uniform of subservience
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Be careful what you ask for social marketing
messages can become your beliefs
We are not anti-car
just get people on bikes
Health and environment messages put people off
Appeal to vanity, time and money saving
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Reminder
Cycling and walking unfriendliness is caused by a
poor quality of the public realm While there
are many reasons for the decline in the public
realm the number one factor has been the loss of
streets and minds to the car
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We have common cause with all those who aim to
re-conquer the public realm to promote human
growth and potential A public realm which
promotes activity and health, opportunities for
creativity and culture, beauty and vistas,
support for emotional and spiritual development,
play, trust building and exchange between
strangers, welcoming places for civic and public
life, and positive relationships with the natural
world
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• The higher order measures to promote cycling are
• public realm strategies
• Reduce volume and speed of motor traffic
• Restrict traffic access (filtered permeability)
• Generously re-allocate road space
• Create greenways

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• A cycling and walking perspective is critical to
  driving changes in the public realm, but there
  must be a willingness to constrain vehicular
  traffic and we must realise the importance of
  public life
• Jan Gehl

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The vision to create great cycling and walking
cities and towns provides a focus which drives
the transformation of the public realm Cycling
growth is both a cause and effect of improved
quality of life and public realm within our
cities Cycle campaigning is the most practical,
strategic and important environmental and social
battle to be involved in It is the urban
campaign to be fighting
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Toxic Childhoods
71 played in the streets
21 today
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Public health emergency
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Rising traffic undermines quality of
life Friendships on busy streets are cut by 75
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Life begins at 20
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Fragmented dis-connected public realm and lack of
relationship with the natural world
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Air Pollution

• In London 3000 premature deaths
• Overall 8 years less of life

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With
Replace
Equals
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Equality and inclusion

• Transport linked exclusion
• Health inequality low income groups suffer
  disproportionate harm from heavy traffic and
  greater impact from physical inactivity

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A Cycle-lised City is a Re-conquered City
Thanks to Ben Hamilton-Baille
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Change the default
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Filtered permeability (creating calmed
neighbourhoods) Maximises permeability for bikes,
buses, pedestrians Restricts it for cars Thanks
to Steve Melia
Thanks to Steve Melia
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Addresses whole street plan/street network
Netherlands, Groningen coarse grain network for
cars
Thanks to Steve Melia
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Groningen fine grain network for cycling
Thanks to Steve Melia
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Urban Cycling Manifesto We will work towards
genuine cycling and walking towns and cities
which address the causes of physical
inactivity Cycling and walking unfriendliness is
caused by a poor quality of the public realm The
decline in the quality of the public realm is
causing a public health crisis of physical
inactivity, pollution, childrens rights abuses,
road danger, ecological-disconnect, and social
exclusion and fragmentation While there are many
reasons for the decline in the public realm the
number one factor has been the loss of streets
and minds to the car. The car-centred planning
default must be switched to public transport and
active travel. The vision of great cycling and
walking cities and towns is the strategic driver
for transformation of the public realm. Cycling
organisations are well placed to lead the
creation of new social and environmental
alliances for urban change. Change will require
a new generation of participatory local
sustainability and public realm strategies with
local and neighbourhood organisations as makers
and shapers of policy and co-producers in
delivering change
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Urban Cycling Manifesto
We call for Cities for People - a Code for the
Sustainable Public Realm A national campaign to
reduce car dependency and reduce the speed and
volume of traffic. Clear transport mode targets
at the city/town and local authority level and
reflected in more rigorous travel
planning Design for active travel - 10 of
transport budgets for active travel with
equivalent funding from the health sector to
reflect the clear business case and high
cost-benefit of active travel investments. Urban
healthy travel networks The choice to go car
free and to experience car-free Modal filters
for neighbourhood creation and play childrens
participation in transport planning
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Urban Cycling Manifesto
We call for More and connected green spaces and
routes Personal Carbon Budgets Fully integrated
urban transport with generous cycle carriage New
funding to support to local campaigning,
alliance-building and neighbourhood
organisations Community cycling funds
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In sum

• The capability for sustained and effective local
  cycling campaigning is key
• There must be commitment from national cycling
  bodies to build the capability and autonomy of
  local campaigns, and of local campaigns to
  support community and grassroots organisations
• Its Not about the Bike A Citys Journey Back
  to Life cycle organisations are well
  positioned to create new and powerful alliances
  for urban change