London wins big at Cycle Planning Awards

The winners of the Cycle Planning Awards 2016 were announced at Glaziers Hall, Southwark in London last week. 90 entries had been submitted for the second annual staging of the awards, which are organised by Landor Links.

The chair of the judging panel was Philip Darnton OBE, executive director of the Bicycle Association. Other members of the panel were: Dr Rachel Aldred, senior lecturer in transport at Westminster University; Brian Deegan, Principal Technical Planner, Transport for London; Will Haynes, head of built Environment at Sustrans; Sharon Goodsell, head of Cycling & walking policy at the Department for Transport; Roger Geffen MBE, campaigns director at Cycling UK; and Martin Key, campaigns manager at British Cycling.

The winners were announced by Andrew Gilligan, the Mayor of London’s former cycling csar.

The category which attracted the most entries was for Best Innovation – Use of Technology or New Technique. The award, sponsored by AECOM, went to CycleStreets Ltd, which provides data to a wide range of journey planning websites and apps across all major platforms. The data helps journey planning apps take into account road conditions, elevations, cycle infrastructure availability, and turn delays at every junction/crossing. CycleStreets says it provides “ready-to-use, customisable and embeddable solutions to local authorities”.

For the second year running, The London Borough of Waltham Forest gained recognition for its efforts to make streets more pedestrian and cyclist friendly.

The council took the Best Cycling Network Strategy or Masterplan award for its Mini-Holland programme. The judges decided that, in alignment with the ‘Mayor’s Vision for Cycling in London’, Waltham Forest has engaged with local needs to develop a clear vision for encouraging people to ‘take to two wheels’.

The council, which received a £27m from Transport for London for the improvements, said the Mini-Holland programme will increase cycling in the borough, making it an attractive mode of transport.

The council believes its measures, which include installing segregated and semi-segregated cycle routes and closing roads to through traffic, will shift a significant proportion of short local car trips to the cycle.

The changes will also improve the look and feel of public spaces, stimulate economic regeneration and improve actual and perceived safety for cyclists and encourage physical activity, says the council.

The Best Cycle Network Infrastructure award, sponsored by WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff, went to Transport for London. Alongside the four Cycle Superhighways completed by TfL between 2010 – 2011, an additional 30km of major routes instalments were completed recently. There are now 18km of segregated or semi-segregated cycle lanes.

The improvements includes low level signaling, 40 facilities that allow cyclists to bypass buses at bus stops, complete separation from traffic at 50 junctions and 23 new pedestrian crossings.

This has resulted in an additional 3,800 cyclists commuting in the morning peak each day, estimates TfL.

TfL says the routes were implemented with extensive public consultation.

The Best Behaviour Change Campaign award, sponsored by Brompton Bike Hire, was won by Cycling UK for the Big Bike Revival. The campaign was launched to encourage people who own bikes but do not cycle, or cycle less than once a week, to start cycling.

Cycling UK says that in 2015, nearly 32,000 people attended over 1,600 events across the two weeks, resulting in 24,000 bikes being revived.

Survey data showed that people who got involved were inspired and empowered to cycle more, says Cycling UK.

The Scottish Government has also announced funding for the Big Bike Revival over autumn 2016.

The Most Cycle Friendly Workplace Award went to Next Plc’s ‘Where Will You Cycle to Next?’ Initiative.

Next began promoting sustainable travel to its workers in 2014. The company says that, at that time, only 24 employees cycled to its head office. Thanks to the initiative, this has now grown to more than 100 who cycle either daily or occasionally.

Starter packs are handed out to employees to encourage them to make the shift to cycling. They are offered financial incentives, discounts off new bikes and free bike training

Next hopes to see another 30 employees making the transition to bike commutes by the end of 2017.

Coca-Cola Belfast Bikes were winners of the Best Integrated Community Hub award. Phase one of the bike hire scheme was launched by Belfast City Council in April 2015. The scheme now has more than 4,000 annual members, says the council. An annual subscription costs £20 or a three-day hire costs £5. Phase 2 of the scheme is now underway, with an additional new stations due to be delivered in 2016, bringing the total to 42.

The ‘Most Cycle-friendly Policies Promoted by Local Government’ prize was awarded to Cambridgeshire County Council.

The authority says it has worked with a number of partners to establish funding and an expert team to “deliver a number of cycling interventions in Cambridge”.

This has resulted in a rise in cycling’s modal share from 18% in 2008 to 25% in 2015, the council says. It has set the target of cycling reaching 40% by 2023.

Cambridgeshire says it was among the first to deploy no entry except cycles, early start signals, stepped cycle tracks with their own ‘Cambridge kerb’.

They have also worked with the local rail operator to develop the UK’s largest cycle hub which offers safe and secure parking for 3,000 bikes.

The council says it is consulting on what could be the first truly Dutch type roundabout in the UK.

Cycling Champion of the Year 2016 was TfL’s Michael Barratt. The judges felt that Barratt had consistently proven himself a true champion for cycling. “He has gone over and above the call of duty to improve road safety and specifically for more vulnerable road users, time and time again,” said Gilligan.

The loudest applause of the evening came when 89-year-old Alistair Hanton was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Gilligan said that Hanton was a “shining example of community leadership” who had started actively campaigning for cycling 40 years ago. Twenty years ago he pioneered the idea of making use of the route around the back of the New Den in east London, which has now been opened as part of Quietway 1.

Hanton has been a “strong campaigner for direct vision lorries, which are now designed for use in London, as well as a member of the Pedestrian’s Association for many years before it became Living Streets”, said Gilligan.

“As a community leader, he’s an obvious choice to front Southwark Council’s 2016 cycling campaign. He is an invaluable member of Southwark’s Cycling Joint Steering Group, is fondly known as the council’s critical friend.”

FULL LIST OF ENTRANTS:

BEST INNOVATION – USE OF TECHNOLOGY OR NEW TECHNIQUE

Cyc-lok – Cyc-lok Ltd.

Union Street Roundabout Bedford – Bedford Borough Council

Orca Cycle Lane Safety Products – Rediweld Rubber & Plastics Ltd

Belfast First Cycle Highway – SignPost Solutions Ltd

Cycle Quietway Wayfinding System – Transport for London

Pedibal Ltd – Pedibal Ltd

Lea Bridge Road (section A) – SUDS – Project Centre

GWR and Bainton Bikes introduce a first for the UK – GWR & Bainton Bikes

CycleStreets and Cyclescape – CycleStreets Ltd

Eco Countryside™ Cycle Kerb Segregation System developed and supplied to Transport for London for the Mayor’s Flagship Cycle Superhighway 2 – Charcon

BICO – Stage Intelligence

Oval Triangle Improvements – Transport for London

Cycle Superhighway (CS) 2 Upgrade – Transport for London

Leeds Street, Liverpool – Liverpool City Council

Propensity to Cycle Tool – Propensity to Cycle Team

Big Birmingham Bikes – Big Birmingham Bikes Birmingham City Council

TfL "Cluster Management"/"Cycling and Traffic Management working group" – London Cycling Campaign

Broughton Cycleway – Transport for Greater Manchester

Access Control System for Southern Rail Cycle Hubs – Cyclepods Ltd

BEST CYCLING NETWORK STRATEGY / MASTERPLAN – (PLANS FOR THE FUTURE)

Santander Cycles Mobile App – Transport for London – Cycle Hire

A Community Led Cycle Network for Beaconsfield – Buckinghamshire County Council

North-West Greenway Plan – Derry City & Strabane District Council

Cycling Network Planning Process – through the four ‘Cs’ – collect, correlate, create, and celebrate! – Durham County Council

Shared Electric Bike Programme – Department for Transport

Glasgow’s Strategic Plan for Cycling 2016-2025 – Glasgow City Council

Norwich pedalway network development – Norwich City Council

Hackney Council – most cycle friendly policy – London Borough of Hackney

Waltham Forest ‘Mini-Holland’ Bid and 2020 Vision – Waltham Forest Council

Abellio ScotRail’s Regional Cycling Network Strategy for Scotland – Falco UK Ltd on behalf of Abellio ScotRail

BEST CYCLE NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT

Oxford – The Plain Roundabout: cycling, walking, and public realm improvements – Oxfordshire County Council

Leeds Street, Liverpool – Liverpool City Council

Cycle Superhighway Programme – Transport for London

Westbrook to Dallam greenway – Warrington Borough Council

Union Street Roundabout Bedford – Bedford Borough Council

Glasgow South West City Way – Glasgow City Council

Summer Lightening Mountain Bike Trail – B1KE

Ruckholt Road Scheme – Waltham Forest Council

Clapham Old Town – Project Centre

Holborn Circus Safety Scheme – City of London

Cycle Superhighway 6 – CS6 (formerly known as North/South Cycle Superhighway) – CUV

Quietway 1 – Waterloo to Greenwich – Transport for London

Millwall Quietway link – Sustrans

Port Salford Greenway – Salford Vity Council

Bridgewater Canal towpath, Barton – Salford City Council

BEHAVIOUR CHANGE CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR

20’s Plenty for Us and its 1000’s of Campaigning Volunteers – 20’s Plenty for Us

The Black Country Cycling Campaign – Centro

Tarmac Tour of Hertfordshire Series – Hertfordshire County Council

Positive Spin: Cycling for people with dementia – Cycle Training UK

Big Birmingham Bikes – Big Birmingham Bikes Birmingham City Council

CityConnect – Rediscover that Cycling Feeling – Diva Creative

Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Social Cycling Project – Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea

Heathrow Cycling Partnership – Heathrow Cycling Partnership

Big Bike Revival – Cycling UK

Positive Spin – Lambeth Council

Bike Bus for school pupils – Ealing Council

Try Before You Bike – Lambeth Council

Life on 2 Wheels – Transport for Greater Manchester

Community Cycling Project/Camden Council – Camden Council

Southwark Council Behaviour Change Campaign – Southwark Council

MOST CYCLE FRIENDLY WORKPLACE

Where will you cycle to Next? – Next Plc

AECOM Birmingham – Encouraging Staff to Cycle – AECOM

Making the cyclist king – GSK

King’s Cross – King’s Cross (Argent LLP)

The Bostin Bikes Bike Offer – Transport for West Midlands

One Small step – The Shrewsbury & Telford Hospital NHS Trust

University of Birmingham ‘Smartmover’ – University of Birmingham

BEST INTEGRATED COMMUNITY HUB OR CYCLE SCHEME (CYCLE PARKING, CYCLE HIRE, HUB OR CAFE)
Coca-Cola Zero Belfast Bikes – Belfast City Council

Stirling Cycle Hub – Forth Environment Link

Enjoy Waltham Forest Cycle Hub Network – Waltham Forest Council

Heathrow Cycle Hub – Heathrow Airport Limited

Cycling hubs in Redbridge – London Borough of Redbridge

Santander Cycles MK – Santander UK

UWE Cycle Hub & Bike Loans – University of the West of England

Lambeth Estates Hub, the Remakery – Lambeth Council

Positive Spin: Cycling for People with Dementia – Cycle Training UK

LOCAL AUTHORITY WITH MOST CYCLE FRIENDLY POLICIES

Greater Cambridge Cycling City (GC3) – Cambridgeshire County Council

Hackney Council – most cycle friendly policy – London Borough of Hackney

Glasgow’s Strategic Plan for Cycling 2016-2025 – Glasgow City Council

London Borough of Waltham Forest – Waltham Forest Council

Southwark Council’s Cycling Strategy – Southwark Council

CYCLING CHAMPION OF THE YEAR

A Community Led Cycle Network for Beaconsfield – Buckinghamshire County Council

Conrad Haigh – ATOC

The Bostin Bikes Bike Officer – Transport for West Midlands

Alastair Hanton – Southwark Council

Michael Barratt – Transport for London

Cllr Feryal Demirci – London Borough of Hackney

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Photo shows Cycling UK’s Daisy Goaman (left) and Hannah Wilson after the Big Bike Revival award presentation