When I See an Adult on a Bicycle, I Do Not Despair for the Future of the Human Race, H.G.Wells

"When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race,” H.G.Wells

Report for Beaconsfield Town Council: 17th May 2012 from Beaconsfield Cycle Paths Action Group

Beaconsfield Cycle Paths Action Group (BCP)

BCP was formed in December 2011 and comprises representatives of each school in Beaconsfield (primary and secondary), town and district councillors, Bucks County Council Sustainable Travel, School Travel personnel, Sustrans, PCSOs, cycling enthusiasts and interest groups.

Our Chairman is District Councillor Matt Denyer, Chairman of Beaconsfield Safety Committee. Supporters include Town Councillors Graham Davie, Geoff Grover, Jacquetta Lowen-Cooper, Joy Legg, Sandy Saunders, District Councillor Ralph Bagge who is also a British Cycling route planner and our Beaconsfield MP, the Right Hon. Dominic Grieve QC, MP.

Background

The Beaconsfield Transport Study and Public Consultation, May2003, proposed a cycling strategy to:-

- Create a core network of cycle lanes and cycle paths

- Encourage use of cycles for short to medium journeys

- Reduce reliance on cars

- Encourage cycling amongst school children by means of safer routes

- Make cycling easier with increased cycle parking

A snapshot of the results of the Public Consultation for that Study stated:

“Provision of cycle lanes, new routes, parking and crossings – 74% in favour”

The cycle path proposal was hence heralded as High Priority within the Study, with the aim of completing the network of lanes and paths within 2-3 years. Even though the funding could have been made available, as the Study report states, the proposals were never carried out. Furthermore the Town Council and the District Council in 2009 funded a Refresh and the consultants endorsed the findings of the original study with respect to cycle routes.

Remit of BCP

BCP aims to build on the excellent work in the Beaconsfield Transportation Study by creating a community and school-led campaign to begin funding and construction of a cycle network for the town. BCP proposes sign-posted cycle routes to the seven schools in Beaconsfield, station, shops, playgrounds, community facilities and sports clubs using mainly quieter residential roads (with the conversion of some short lengths of existing footpaths to shared use) linking up the routes and crossing the railway line.

Reasons for Campaign

• Beaconsfield already has an ideal combination of factors for creation of the proposed cycle network. BCP members’ research, data-gathering and informal consultation to date have only reinforced this view.
• There are a number of off road paths and footpaths which could easily be adapted for shared usage to link to our proposed network.
• There are already a number of bike racks (see appendix 3) in strategic locations.
• All the Beaconsfield schools have a School Travel Plan and promote cycling and sustainable transport modes in their plans.
• The topography of the town, on the whole, is excellent for cycling
• Perceived enthusiasm for cycling is significant.
• BCP wishes to reduce significantly the congestion on the roads in Beaconsfield, and to increase the number of cycle paths for personal health and environmental reasons.
• BCP wishes to co-ordinate under one roof the school travel initiatives and ecological objectives of a number of local interest groups in the town.
• Demand for primary school places is increasing in Beaconsfield, for example one school will have an additional class intake in September 2012, which will generate additional travel demands.
• Local anxiety regarding increased traffic can be diluted with a clear policy and objectives

Action to date

BCP members have held three meetings to date with wide-ranging focused debate; pooled knowledge; test-cycled routes around the town; prepared a detailed map of proposed routes (Appendix 1 ); analysed footpaths on proposed routes (Appendix 2); researched criteria for suitable paths and routes ; undertaken an analysis of cycle rack location in and around the town (Appendix 3); completed detailed analysis of where the school children live in relation to their schools (Appendix 4); obtained expert advice from traffic engineers; obtained evidence of precedent (Stoke Poges: Cllr. Ralph Bagge: Wexham Park Hospital route ; Gerrards Cross: A40 to Denham; Marlow; Chalfont St Giles to Chalfont St Peter ); undertaken provisional costings (Appendix 5); liaised with Bucks CC Parking Consultation officers; enlisted support from the Right. Hon. Dominic Grieve MP (Appendix 6); taken photos (Appendix 7 ); taken a stand at “Beaconsfield Now 2012 ” on 26th May 2012; promoted the need for a Cycle Shop in Beaconsfield (Cllr Sandy Saunders) and going forward seek to raise awareness of the importance of more prolific and safe cycling in the town.

We actively support, in the main, the Times newspaper campaign for Safer Cycling in Cities (with varying views on the default 20mph speed limit in residential areas which is not the focus of our campaign). We have followed closely the Parliamentary Debate engendered by the Times Campaign.

Following a report to BCP by Simon Glover, Bucks CC Cycling and Walking Officer, BCP supports the forthcoming Access to Stations transport bid by the Bucks CC/Sustrans/Chiltern Railways partnership to make funds available to promote sustainable access to stations. BCP consider that our existence, aims and objectives complement the objectives of the above bid.

Expressions of Support

"The Action Group in Beaconsfield is an excellent example of communities taking ownership of cycling in their area. We wholeheartedly support the efforts and enthusiasm of the Group and will seek to work with them to identify the most suitable cycling solutions for the town and to identify funding opportunities to help implement these measures. Beaconsfield is a relatively flat town, which gives it great potential for encouraging cycling as an alternative to car use. We have already bid for funding to enhance cycle links to the rail station (which is currently extremely well used by cyclists). If this bid is successful then we can work with the Action Group to link these works into the overall aspirations for the wider town."

Rebecca Dengler
Sustainability Service Lead Officer
Place Service, Buckinghamshire County Council

We would dearly love to see many more students cycling to our school for reasons of both sustainable travel and easing car use, and have asked parents in our travel surveys as to why they do not encourage their daughters to do so. The comments from parents below show how invaluable a cycle path would be:

· No continuous pavement on her route to school

· Safety in busy rush hour and school traffic.

· A40 does not have cycle path or continuous path

· Cycling is not an option due not only to distance, but more importantly the fact that the route largely comprises unlit, bendy, 50mph limit road with no cycle path or footpath

· Cycling would be good, but no safe cycle routes

Andrew McLean, Assistant Head, Beaconsfield High School

The Case for the A40 Cycle Route

In addition to the network of cycle paths (using mainly quieter residential roads) proposed by BCP, BCP has also considered and wishes to include in this report for consideration by the Town Council and Beaconsfield Forum , the case for the A40 cycle route (Appendix 9 : A perspective from Holtspur School )

Costings

BCP estimates the initial costs at £25,000 (Appendix 5) to include a Feasibility Study. The costs are based on the Stoke Poges route which was implemented this year (source from Beeches LAF report). Whilst our primary focus is to establish a clearly signed cycle network, we anticipate there will be additional costs incurred for other requirements such as drop kerbs and safer cycle crossing. In addition there will be some low cost quick wins such as re-designating footpaths as shared usage and cutting back overgrown vegetation.

Appendices to BCP proposal to Beaconsfield Town Council

1. Map of proposed cycle routes

2. Proposed routes: short analysis of footpaths

3. Beaconsfield cycle rack locations

4. Selected school pupil postcode data

5. Costings

6. Letters to and from the Right Hon. Dominic Grieve MP in support of BCP

7. Press comment : Buckinghamshire Advertiser : 22nd December 2011 (page 7) ; Beaconsfield Advertiser 2nd February 2012 ( page 11) ; Beaconsfield Advertiser : 17th February 2012; Beaconsfield Advertiser 1st March 2012 ; The Times : Manifesto for Cycling 4th February 2012

8. Photographs

9. Expressions of Support – “A perspective from Holtspur School”