“Too wet, too windy, too dangerous, too far, too hilly, too hard…” What are the barriers to cycling in the UK? David Wildman 15 th September 2015
The benefits are a given Improve health Save money Door to door transport No emissions in use Low space requirements Social and societal It’s fun Economic benefits….
The good Bike sales booming Bike hire schemes Bike hire use Participation (active travel stats) Local statistics Money for infrastructure I see more people on bikes Modal change
The bad Use remains low Stagnation Accidents Media reporting of accidents Perceptions ‘Bloody cyclists…’
So why aren’t we cycling more? Ask a person in the street…
So why do we cycle? Human factors? OR Engineering solutions?
Behavioural Safety & Confidence, a function of: • Training and education leading to better behaviour by all users of the roads… OR • Design (bikes, clothing, infrastructure…)
Social, Cultural and Personal Riding a bike a function of: • Getting fit, wanting to be a ‘trendy’ hipster, spend time with family, partner has taken car, the media, sales, peer pressure, being outdoors, saving the planet… OR • Better equipment, routes and trip end facilities?
Financial Can’t afford a car Don’t want a car Can’t afford bike Where’s the money going to come from?
Infrastructure I think we all agree we need better, BUT… • Different cycle users want different things • Is nothing sometimes better • Can’t just put it anywhere • Needs to give confidence • Enforcement • Integration • Remember it’s about people moving • Don’t forget the trip end – storage, security, showers, lockers…
Technology A tool to aid planning and design? Changing the fitness agenda (Smartphones, Fitbit, Strava etc.) Journey planning safe routes Technology to reduce conflicts E Bikes for the less fit Trailer bikes for families Cargo bikes Impact of Autonomous Vehicles?
So what comes first? Cycling ‘culture’ OR Cycling infrastructure Portland - Cycle use has ‘topped’ out at 6% and case for more infra being needed to get to target of 25% by 2030. Manchester aspirations for 10% mode share of all trips by 2025
Effective Infrastructure Not about predict and provide Base it on social need not where there’s space Think about users and their expectations and experience Speak to people and understand (route choice) Learn Build on existing demand (use data) and culture Respond to changes Integrate – modes, planning, policy and enforcement It's about human and engineered factors!
Thank you for listening
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