Scrutiny of Hertfordshire County Council’s Cycling Strategy

1. Hertfordshire Highways www.hertsdirect.org Scrutiny of Hertfordshire County Council’s Cycling Strategy Cycling Infrastructure Design October 2009

2. Hertfordshire Highways www.hertsdirect.org The presentation will: Outline the technical guidance followed and difficulties encountered in the development of cycling schemes Address the question of how we meet the needs of all types of cyclist Identify improvements that can be introduced to the design process

3. Hertfordshire Highways www.hertsdirect.org Current Design Guidance Main document: Local Transport Note (LTN) 2/08 Cycle Infrastructure Design Issued by the Department for Transport in October 2008 Brings together updates and guidance previously available in a number of documents Provides guidance applicable to local roads

4. Hertfordshire Highways www.hertsdirect.org Current Design Guidance Other relevant guidance: Cycling England Design Checklist and Portfolio – in large part incorporated into LTN 2/08 but useful source of guidance and best practice Manual for Streets – issued by DfT in 2007 providing guidance on inclusive street design focusing on lightly trafficked residential streets TA90/05 The Geometric Design of Pedestrian, Cycle and Equestrian Routes and TA91/05 Provision for Non-motorised Users – issued by the Highways Agency in 2005 providing guidance on off-carriageway routes associated with trunk road and motorway improvements

5. Hertfordshire Highways www.hertsdirect.org Current Design Guidance Retains key features of earlier guidance (e.g Cycle Friendly Infrastructure - 1996) 1) Setting out 5 core principles which summarise the desirable design requirements for cyclists: Convenience Accessibility Safety Comfort Attractiveness

6. Hertfordshire Highways www.hertsdirect.org Current Design Guidance 2) Setting out a hierarchy of provision that offers useful guidance on steps to be considered when designing improvements to cycle infrastructure

7. Hertfordshire Highways www.hertsdirect.org Current Design Guidance LTN 2/08 also provides a guide to type of provision depending on traffic flow and speed. The information is taken from the London Cycling Design Standards. In graphical form it is as follows:

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9. Hertfordshire Highways www.hertsdirect.org Earlier Guidance A similar type of chart was provided in the 1996 and 1997 Sustrans Document “Guidelines and Practical Details”. Aimed at providing for inexperienced cyclists it indicates a need for segregation from motor traffic at lower speed/volume levels than the earlier chart:

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11. Hertfordshire Highways www.hertsdirect.org Application in Hertfordshire Annex 2 of the HCC Cycling Strategy: General presumption that improvements will be made to allow on-road cycling Hierarchy of measures will be followed to achieve this Reduce traffic flow/speed to an appropriate level that allows on-road cycling Very difficult to achieve in practice

12. Hertfordshire Highways www.hertsdirect.org Current Design Guidance Slight change of emphasis LTN and Manual for Streets advise that the hierarchy of provision offers useful guidance but is not meant to be applied rigidly Advises that solutions in upper tier of hierarchy of provision not always viable Recognises different categories of cyclist Recognises that provision made may reflect the category of cyclist expected to use the facility

13. Hertfordshire Highways www.hertsdirect.org LTN 2/08 Categories of Cyclist

14. Hertfordshire Highways www.hertsdirect.org Meeting the Need School children: Generally provide off-road facilities Core principle of safety overrides other considerations

15. Hertfordshire Highways www.hertsdirect.org Meeting the Need Fast Commuter: Ideally provide on-road facilities to cater for current use and encourage new use. Commuter routes generally follow main traffic corridors to business parks/industrial areas as destinations can cover a large area. Traffic flow typically 13 to 20,000 vpd. Even the lower figure is on the limit of the chart range. Traffic reduction to level suitable for on-road cycling not realistically achievable as there is generally no alternative route to redirect traffic to in short-term (possibly bypasses long-term).

16. Hertfordshire Highways www.hertsdirect.org Meeting the Need Fast Commuter (cont’d): If route also coincident with a principal or distributor road where movement of freight and traffic is the primary function the redirection of traffic is not likely to be appropriate Often an off-road facility is the only achievable option if new users are to be encouraged Or, find an alternative parallel route for cyclists – not always available in a way that meets core principles

17. Hertfordshire Highways www.hertsdirect.org Meeting the Need Other commuter/utility/inexperienced cyclist: Target commuting to single destinations (e.g. stations) where less direct but quieter routes may be achievable to encourage new use Possibly some segregation

18. Hertfordshire Highways www.hertsdirect.org Meeting the Need Leisure cyclists: Longer routes have incorporated a range of measures Traffic calming on quieter but fast roads to improve safety while maintaining directness Redistribution of road space e.g. contra flow cycle lane Off-road routes alongside rural roads with fast traffic where traffic calming not appropriate.

19. Hertfordshire Highways www.hertsdirect.org Implementation Difficulties Contra-flow cycling: Special authorisation for advisory facilities Timescale

20. Hertfordshire Highways www.hertsdirect.org Implementation Difficulties On-road facilities: Traffic regulation orders – objections Road Humps Notices - objections Public consultation opposition

21. Hertfordshire Highways www.hertsdirect.org Implementation Difficulties Off-road facilities: Public consultation opposition Land acquisition difficulties when widening needed (dedication, permissive rights agreement) On private land – permissive rights agreement, planning permission, dedication) Multi–user facilities – special authorisation/width Using rights of way – Cycle Tracks Order to convert footpath, objections, bridleway dedication, permissive rights agreement

22. Hertfordshire Highways www.hertsdirect.org Problems and Solutions Problems Two main areas have been highlighted where the needs of cyclists are sometimes not adequately addressed: Design teams working on non-cycling schemes may overlook the need to accommodate cyclists within their proposals. Lack of expertise in some personnel who work on cycling proposals. Solution The roll-out of the non-motorised user auditprocess described earlier will ensure that the needs of cyclists are not overlooked in non-cycling schemes and will provide or prompt less experienced personnel to seek detailed guidance when necessary

23. Hertfordshire Highways www.hertsdirect.org Questions?