Resin Bound Surfacing: July 2018

Friday 27 July 2018

Birmingham's Clean Air Zone – good, but could it be even better?

Photo credit © Jonathan Bewley

Birmingham City Council’s proposal for a Clean Air Zone is out for consultation and is generating plenty of interest. Under the proposal about 50% of vehicles would be liable to incur a charge, and so encourage many people to think again about how they travel to and from the city centre. This is an important next step in expanding the city’s core – the part where it’s most enjoyable and pleasant to walk and to spend time, largely because people on foot greatly outnumber cars.

Birmingham’s planned Clean Air Zone is more ambitious than those of most other UK cities because it combines inclusion of some private vehicles with a meaningful level of proposed charges and has a promise to invest in alternatives to the car. It represents Birmingham taking a unique lead in sustainable transport, which is very welcome.

This has come about partly because Birmingham now has little choice. Within the UK it has the highest levels of nitrogen dioxide and particulate pollution outside of London. Meanwhile, nearly all other European cities with a population of more than one-million have a larger tram or urban rail system where the tracks and platforms don’t have to be shared with long-distance trains, so can therefore offer a turn-up-and-go service much more easily. Many also have some form of traffic restraint.

How Birmingham would benefit from a Clean Air Zone

The City Council’s review of complementary measures for the Clean Air Zone focused on options that would cut most levels of nitrogen dioxide and be economically and socially acceptable. What the review did not take into account was the extra benefits that certain options would bring. For example, enabling more cycling through the introduction of protected bike lanes on more main roads and having 20mph on side streets would add value by addressing other challenges such as tackling obesity and physical inactivity and freeing up local NHS budgets and services. Sustrans supports the planned Clean Air Zone and believes that the review of measures should take these collateral benefits into account.

Measures will be needed to tackle the impact of traffic displacement, especially because those most likely to suffer are some communities just beyond the ring road that already face deprivation in other ways. The most effective long-term way to tackle this is to invest in alternative travel choices. A reduction in motor traffic passing through these areas will not only improve the air, it will also make the streets safer, quieter and more welcoming. This cannot be achieved just through a switch to electric vehicles.

Our Bike Life Birmingham report showed that more people riding bikes improves air quality; over 16 tonnes of nitrogen oxide and 1,797 kg of particulates are avoided annually across the city by people with access to a car choosing to cycle to places instead. This is just from the current low level of cycling. Meanwhile, 70% of Birmingham residents agree that more space for people on bikes or on foot, as opposed to additional space for cars, is the best way to reduce air pollution so we know there is widespread support for change.

Birmingham City Council should develop its cycling proposals more rapidly and commit to using any Clean Air Zones income to support these - in particular to fast forward the creation of a much-needed safe route along the A456 Hagley Road and extension of the new protected bike lane along the A34 Walsall Road to the Alexander Stadium and onward to Walsall.

The upcoming West Midlands public bike share scheme will open up another choice for people that have driven to locations just within the ring road. Some of whom could now take the train to town then use a bike share to get to locations that are too far to walk from New Street or Snow Hill stations.

The potential rewards for central Birmingham of less dependence on cars are many. Besides quieter and safer space and easier ways to exercise, there should be:

Less congestion on city centre streets because of fewer moving and parked cars. In Copenhagen the 9% of people who drive to work occupy 66% of the street space. With about 50% of people driving to work, it’s no wonder Birmingham’s roads are congested. Those who continue to drive in the city centre will see much less traffic congestion there.
Better travel choices. The increased demand for alternatives will eventually be met by better provision. In Birmingham, 23% of households have no car, and many individuals living in homes that do have a car have limited use of it. All these people will benefit from better choices for reaching the increasing jobs and cultural events of the city centre.
Cleaner streets. The full costs of bad air quality are sometimes not seen or understood until after improvements are made – take the case of crime and lead in petrol. Who knows what extra unforeseen benefits await from cutting nitrogen oxides?

Especially for individuals, change always brings its difficulties and for many, finding alternatives to driving to the city centre will be an unwelcome challenge. Many lives have been planned around being able to drive everywhere, and until recently Birmingham enabled or even encouraged that. It will take years for lives to be built around different travel choices, but this can be achieved and there are many benefits to be had.

How to ensure the Clean Air Zone becomes a reality

The proposed Clean Air Zone could be much more ambitious. We support the Clean Air Zone as it is proposed and welcome extensions of it. The design and new infrastructure should be future-proofed to facilitate easy expansion of the zone across the ring road and beyond.

If you agree with the plans, don’t just assume they will go ahead. Opponents are often more likely to respond to consultations than supporters, so make sure your voice is heard, and call for a more ambitious scheme if you prefer. The consultation closes on 17 August 2018.

Have your say as an individual citizen: respond to Birmingham City Council's Clean Air Zone for Birmingham consultation

Have your say as an organisation: respond to Birmingham City Council’s Clean Air Zone for Birmingham consultation

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Thursday 12 July 2018

Walking and cycling infrastructure key to Scotland's prosperous future

Whatever your view on the report of the Sustainable Growth Commission earlier this summer, it has led to debate on what we want a future Scotland to look like. At Sustrans Scotland, our work making it easier for people to walk and cycle means we have a clear view of what Scotland needs.

Sustrans Scotland is a charity. We are non-partisan. We will partner with anyone who wants to make walking and cycling an easier choice for everyone. We do not take a view on independence or the union. However, we care passionately about a successful future for Scotland and think the third sector should engage more in debate on how we create that future.

Promoting walking and cycling

The Growth Commission report considers how Scotland can replicate the success of “small advanced economies, notably those in Northern Europe”. There is undoubtedly a benefit to Scotland in pursuing similar pathways to Northern European nations in promoting walking and cycling for economic growth, health, inclusivity and tackling social injustice.

As an independent nation or not, becoming an active nation is part of the answer to many of Scotland’s challenges. The government has made strong statements in recent months. Transport Scotland committed £80 million to walking and cycling, and the NHS increasingly prioritises the need to make it easy for people to lead active lifestyles. Scotland generates record amounts of clean energy, and is taking steps to reduce carbon emissions and we eagerly await the implementation and development of Scotland’s low emission zones. But there is more to do.

Making people the priority

Like any report on the future of Scotland, the Sustainable Growth Commission has priority areas of development, in this case using the shorthand of productivity, population and participation. As a delivery partner of the Scottish Government and local authorities, we see first-hand how active travel can lead these strategic priorities.

A more productive Scotland with a stronger economy needs to ensure that growth is shared locally through spending and job creation. There is clear evidence that you get more jobs created and sustained per pound building walking and cycling infrastructure than you do for road, rail or aviation.

It is equally important to share growth between rural and urban areas. High-quality rural routes attract walking and cycle tourism, which draws more and more visitors to Scotland’s natural beauty each year.

To grow the population of Scotland sustainably we need to make sure we can move people easily, while reducing congestion. With the highest growth in population forecast in areas around Scotland’s cities we need better public transport, particularly buses, and welcoming urban spaces for walking. Crucially we need better cycling connections on arterial routes into and out of urban centres to move high volumes of people. This will also help to keep this population healthy – physical inactivity costs Scotland’s NHS £94 million every year, and that’s only increasing.

And for more people to participate in a future Scotland, we need inclusive growth that doesn’t insist on owning a car. 3/10 households in Scotland have no access to a car and 1/5 of people in Scotland live in areas at a high risk of transport poverty.

In short, walking and cycling can play a strategic part in meeting Scotland’s aims for productivity, population and participation, whilst adding a 4th ‘P’ to that list: people.

Sharing the benefits of transport investment

This would be an investment strategy for Scotland’s economy and for Scotland’s people. The report demands “infrastructure which will further carry economic benefits that could secure the ‘pay-back’ to investment”. We see the value of walking and cycling and will make the case for it in any future investment.

A new Strategic Transport Projects Review will soon begin preliminary work to compliment a new National Transport Strategy that is in development. This is the Government’s shopping list of potential transport infrastructure projects for the next decade to support Scotland’s growth. Our experience, and that of cost-benefit analysis, is that big-ticket, large-scale, eye-catching projects don’t always offer the best pay-back for Scotland.

There can be greater economic benefit from better community connections to shops, schools and local services – especially when you consider health, air quality, the environment, and wider strategic priorities. Instead of few, select locations around the country profiting, this would help Scotland to spread the benefit of investment and make it more inclusive.

Scotland is increasingly aligning policy and actions with other prosperous Northern European countries, and our infrastructure investment should reflect this. The vision of the Scottish Government’s 2018-19 Programme for Government is to make towns and cities safer and more pleasant for walking and cycling. It’s time to shift our thinking on transport investment, connect our rural communities and transform our villages, towns and cities with this vision. Let’s build the Scotland we want with an international ambition and a local focus.

Find out more about how Sustrans Scotland is delivering infrastructure across Scotland

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Thursday 5 July 2018

In support of “Stay wider of the rider” campaign

Photo: ©Livia Lazar 2017

The London Cycling Campaign (LCC) have today launched their summer campaign: “Stay wider of the rider.” The campaign reminds drivers to give plenty of room to people cycling, when overtaking.

Enabling more of us to cycle starts by reducing the dangers on our streets

Cycling is growing in popularity. We know that in 2016, 730,000 journeys in London every day were cycled – up from 570,000 just five years previously in 2011. This has coincided with a fall in the risk of serious injury or death while cycling: 58 per cent since 2000. This shows that concerted efforts over successive mayoralties to reduce road danger and protect people cycling are working.

But for many of us, cycling still doesn’t look or feel safe. And until it does, we won’t realise the full benefit of cycling: cleaner air, a significantly healthier and happier population, reducing the burden on our 70 year old NHS, and more Londoners able to access the things they need, cheaply and easily.

While infrastructure is vital, it can’t come soon enough and it won’t reach everywhere. Segregated cycle ways, separated traffic signals, low-traffic or filtered neighbourhoods and 20 mile per hour zones do most of the work. But sharing streets and roads with cars, vans and buses will unfortunately be a reality for many of us for many years to come. That’s why we support this campaign to promote a bit of courtesy, care and compassion when behind the wheel.

We’re absolutely behind this campaign to make our roads safer for everyone

When any vehicle passes a rider too closely, it is intimidating and dangerous. Research conducted by academics at the University of Westminster found that a regular commuter could expect to experience a close pass every day or two. And with 40,000 commuters entering central London alone every morning, that’s a lot of unnecessary stress, fear and even harm caused by a moment’s carelessness. Close passes can put people off cycling more of their journeys or even cycling altogether.

Despite the fact that 79% of serious injuries and loss of life for people cycling occurs at junctions (the main infrastructure priority), close passes are ranked as the third leading conflict behind serious injuries to cyclists, according to Transport for London.

Reducing danger on our roads is absolutely essential to make cycling easier and safer. So Sustrans supports the LCC in their campaign to raise awareness of responsible driving. Particularly in the summer when the warm weather sees more Londoners try out cycling, many of whom doing so for the first time.

Like the LCC, we want to see much greater enforcement of safe passing distances. Until our streets are designed to make close passes a thing of the past – for which our political leaders have ultimate responsibility - we need more attentive, considerate and respectful driving.

What is a safe passing distance?

The Highway Code states clearly that, when driving, you should leave at least as much room as you would when overtaking a car. We consider this to be 1.5 metres.

Are the police doing anything about it?

Police forces are beginning to take action, pioneered by the West Midlands police force’s ‘Close Pass’ operation. Most see a plain-clothed police officer ride a bike equipped with a video camera. When a driver passes too close they are stopped by another officer and given advice. Prosecutions are only made for repeat offenders or when a pass is considered very close and dangerous. The force also looks at video evidence supplied by the public.

There are 22 police forces around the country believed to be doing similar initiatives to some extent, including London’s Metropolitan Police Force.

Last month, Cycling Minister, Jesse Norman endorsed the initiative and announced that the Department for Transport would provide training materials and support for police forces to run their own close-pass operations; a measure we called for in our response to the Department for Transport’s Cycle Safety Review. We now need the College of Policing to endorse it too, so that more forces start to take action.

Having the LCC and their sponsors raise awareness of this important issue over the summer is very welcome. Just remember when you’re driving to be patient and stay wider of the rider.

Find out how you can support “Stay wider of the Rider”

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Wednesday 4 July 2018

Beelines’ political backing is the key to success

Rosslyn Colderly and Chris Boardman on a protected path in Manchester

Cycle City Active City at University Place, Manchester. Photo Cycle City Active City

Last week’s Cycle City Active City conference was buzzing with excitement thanks to the launch of Chris Boardman’s new Beelines proposal for Greater Manchester – potentially the UK’s largest joined up City Region network for walking and cycling.

As we sat in the packed conference hall listening to Mayor Andy Burnham confirming his commitment to get behind an ambitious plan including 1000 miles of routes with 75 miles of them fully protected and a network of 25 ‘filtered neighbourhoods’, even hardened cycle campaigners had a warm glow. It felt like active travel was having a star moment.

In England this is the first time outside London that cycling and walking has seen such a strong political buy-in and the money to do it at the same time. We also know from our Bike Life reports that the moment is right. The people in Greater Manchester fully support more investment to make their city region a better place to travel by bike or on foot. This could be the beginning of a people-first revolution in how we organise our cityscape and transport modes.

Beelines is a powerful idea which Boardman as a businessman surely recognised would ‘sell’. Manchester’s worker bee symbol harks back to the city’s industrial heritage, and is currently regaining grassroots popularity as the community spirit of Manchester. This an ingenious way to promote this product and get buy-in from many different audiences. Crucially, Burnham, as a politician, also recognises how this concept, moving people fairly through our city spaces, is one which has real local support. Cycling and walking are no longer fringe activities, resigned to the back room of transport planners offices; we’ve come full circle and about to hit the mainstream again

Recent studies show that boosting cycling can lead to an increase in walking. Walking is easy for most people, does not require special equipment and has fantastic physical health and mental wellbeing benefits. Perhaps surprisingly, we know that 51% of visitors to the National Cycle Network, which is over 16,000 miles and stretches the length and breadth of the UK, are not cycling – they are walking, jogging or running instead.

As Chris Boardman states, positive language that responds to peoples’ needs can help win support. Are we banning pavement parking or creating spaces which pass the ‘double buggy test’, allowing families to take a walk together? Are we building a network for cyclists or creating liveable neighbourhoods and promoting corridors where people can breathe cleaner air? One version is a political hot-potato ; the other a political no-brainer.

Burnham and Boardman have created a powerful political commitment in Greater Manchester. It has the potential to set an exciting precedent which other cities can emulate and improve. Who will take up the baton next?

Resin Bound Surfacing