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Rod King. Warrington Cycle Campaign CTC Right to Ride 20’s Plenty For Us Living Streets. I’ve got 10 minutes. That’s 1 minute for every life lost on UK roads today 2 will be pedestrians. At 21% of road deaths this is the largest percentage in Europe (ave 14.7%).
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Rod King Warrington Cycle Campaign CTC Right to Ride 20’s Plenty For Us Living Streets
I’ve got 10 minutes • That’s 1 minute for every life lost on UK roads today • 2 will be pedestrians. At 21% of road deaths this is the largest percentage in Europe (ave 14.7%) • Tomorrow one will be a cyclist • Our urban road speed limit (30 mph) is 60% higher than Northern Europe (18.5 mph) • 85% of deaths will be on urban roads
Warrington Cycle Campaign Key Milestones • Formed 1998 and assisted in developing an excellent Cycling Strategy with council as part of LTP 2001-2006 • Which WBC then put on shelf and ignored • March 2001, webmaster Pete Owens became angry at ridiculous cycle path on a major roundabout. Published on website. • Facility of the Month was born • 85 months later it gets one of the largest cycling hits on the web • Try Googling “Cycle Facility”
Warrington Cycle Campaign • 2002 formed policy of opposing cycle lanes less than 2m wide • 2003 campaigned against cycle unfriendly speed bumps and won • 2004 cycled to Warrington’s twin town Hilden in Germany – • 23% in town trips made by cycle • What could we learn
The road from Hilden • Hilden has substandard cycle facilities, spending just €12,000 per annum But • In early 1990 reduced residential speeds to 18.5 mph and even as slow as 7mph • Community involvement • Police enforcement • City-wide • 23% in town trips by cycle • 25% in town trips by bus • 40% fewer car trips per person transported than Warrington
Realisation • 20 mph drastically reduces the need for and cost of cycle and pedestrian facilities • By a factor of 25 • 20 mph reduces relative speed between motorists and cyclist by a factor of 2.5 • Before 30 mph to 14 mph = 16 mph • After 20 mph to 14 mph = 6 mph • Substantially increases modal shift opportunity • Community led and valued • WCC produce report comparing Hilden and Warrington
2005 • WCC invited to present Hilden report at Velo-City • WCC hosted Autumn CTC/CCN “Streets Ahead” Conference • 1st to gain major sponsorship from Urban Engineering • 1st to have on line payments • 1st to pay international speaker expenses • Aimed high on organisation and professionalism • WCC asked to present to Dublin City Council on 20 mph speed limits
2006 • Facility of the month in major press and TV articles in support of Highway Code criticism by CTC • Manchester Evening News, Times, Telegraph, Mail and Star newspapers • BBC News • Granada Reports • Developed our campaign for 20 mph as default speed limit for residential roads
2007 • Presented at Northwest Cycle Planners Conference • Raised petitions at local events with 80% in favour of 20 mph limits for residential roads • Published “Crap Cycle Lanes” • Invited to go to New York to present Facility of The Month slides in New York City Hall by David Byrne – Talking Heads • Presented Lower Speeds workshop at CTC/CCN conference • Developed Warrington Cycle Map with WBC • Formed 20’s Plenty For Us charity to help communities campaign for 20 mph as default residential speed limit
20’s Plenty Where People Live • 20’s Plenty For Us campaigns for and supports communities wanting a 20 mph default speed limit in residential roads. • It is not mode specific • Provides research reports to use in campaigns • Provides useful material • Provides discussion groups for sharing successes • It welcomes new members and associate groups from around the country • Attended PACTS conference on Thursday • Visited Portsmouth City Council yesterday www.20splentyforus.org.uk
WCC key factors in success • 250 members but less than 10 activists • Have clear policies – choose our battlegrounds • 20 mph residential • Child cycle training • Better sharing of roads • Ignore trivia and detail • Look for leverage and multipliers • Specialise and delegate • Trust each other • Be strong on PR and community influence • Seize every opportunity to push policies • Aim high and beyond what you think you can achieve
Most importantly • Recognise ladder of influence • People and communities influence • Politicians listen and respond • Professionals deliver • Embrace all vulnerable road users • What’s good for pedestrians is usually good for cyclists • Remember its our pedestrian deaths which are worst in Europe • The Culture is changing – We ARE winning.
Culture changing – says who? • Advertisers • Seen any car adverts lately? • Seen any that are not fantasy? • 4x4s climbing buildings, Astra’s driven by dolphins • Want to sell something with freedom and independence • Show a bicycle • The public • 80% in favour of 20’s Plenty • Even 70% drivers (audit commission) • Says PACTS – Beyond 2010 • Says London and Portsmouth and Norwich and every community that is asked
Thank you For more information see :- www.warringtoncyclecampaign.co.uk www.20splentyforus.org.uk