TfGM plots route to Copenhagen-style cycle city

TfGM cyclistsTransport for Greater Manchester and charity Sustrans are launching a new citizens' survey aimed at boosting interest in cycling in Greater Manchester.

The survey, inspired by the success of cycling initiatives in European cities such as Copenhagen, will assess the views of the people of Greater Manchester on how to create a city fit for bicycle use.

TfGM and Sustrans will work together to showcase a vision for increasing cycling and will set up monitoring and evaluation programmes to track progress with results published in a biennial report.

Sustrans is also working with Newcastle, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Cardiff and Bristol to produce similar bicycle reports for each city. The project is supported by The Freshfield Foundation.

Cllr Andrew Fender, chairman of the Transport for Greater Manchester Committee, said: "This is a bold initiative that will help us achieve our ambition to make Greater Manchester an even greater place to live and work by getting more people on bikes, and by engaging our residents in this process.

"TfGM has made a strong commitment to increase the level of cycling in the area in our Greater Manchester Cycle Strategy and we believe that benchmarking our work with other areas will help us and others deliver a better future for cycling."

Through its Velocity 2025 cycling vision Greater Manchester is set to introduce an initial 56km network of – where possible – separated cycle lanes. The target is for 10% of trips to be made by bike by 2025 subject to continued government funding.

Between 2011 and 2015 Greater Manchester will have received £37m government funding for cycling improvements ranging from cycle hubs, to new cycle routes and road safety improvements.

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About time! The UK has a lot of catching up to do, we are so far behind compared to our European counterparts so initiatives like this should be greatly welcomed.

By LJA

Would you be able to provide a link to the survey please? Would be keen to take part!

By Kat Clayton

I cycle to, from and through Manchester on a daily basis, and have done for 5 years. As someone who also drives in the city (and is a pedestrian also at times!), I understand how the roads work for other users and respect that when cycling. However I see far too many cyclists abusing the system, and generating a bad name for cycling and cylists. Personally I don’t see why I am allowed to share the road with drivers who spent thousands of pounds and countless hours passing an exam, when I have done no competency test to ensure I am not a liability when riding a bicycle on the road next to buses, lorries, cars, etc. Initiatives/frameworks to enhance safety, legitimise cycling as a monitored method of transport and change attitudes towards cycling would be a good start…..

By Manc Communter

Well said Manc Commuter! There are too many cyclists who dont actually know that riding on a pavement is against the law (Laws HA 1835 sect 72 & R(S)A 1984, sect 129) and that a red traffic light does not mean they can proceed regardless of the traffic situation. Its all very well putting in new cycle routes and hubs but if cyclists dont know how to ride a bike correctly then its just a waste of time

By Pedestrian

Good European style infrastructure reduces the need for things like ‘competency tests’. Bikes should not have to spend time sharing road space with cars – all the best cities have true segregated facilities – reducing conflict and increasing safety. I must also say that the people you see breaking rules, cycling on pavements and not using lights – are often not people who take it seriously. They are often BMX riding, hoody wearing type who have little regard for safety and traffic law – or any law for that matter. Its important not to confuse different types of cyclists. This category of cyclist are akin to the boy-racers who charge though 20mph zones at 40mph in pocket rockets.

By Gary-Mo-Harry

Manc Commuter, as a cyclist and driver in the cuty centre myself I agree with you that some cyclists act recklessly, however so do drivers. Many drivers do not know how to drive with pedestrians and cyclists in mind, and often only think of their own journey e.g. getting through the red light even if it means blocking the way for cyclists. This is not helped in the city centre where when roads are too narrow for cyclists the cycle pathjs simply disappear… A lot needs to be done in Manchester to make it a cycling friendly city in respect of cyclist and motorist behaviour and the environment which we should all share. A link to the survey would be greatly appreciated!

By Another Cyclist

Pedestrian – your comments regarding cycling on the pavement is subject to the Home Office Guidance of Paul Boateng in 1999: "The introduction of the fixed penalty is not aimed at responsible cyclists who sometimes feel obliged to use the pavement out of fear of traffic and who show consideration to other pavement users when doing so. Chief police officers, who are responsible for enforcement, acknowledge that many cyclists, particularly children and young people, are afraid to cycle on the road, sensitivity and careful use of police discretion is required." Also, one of the very simple reasons why motorists need to pass tests is they are driving potentially lethal large lumps of metal. Cyclists rarely come out the winner when it comes to collisions with pedestrians, let alone a ton or more of metal. Statistically there are far more pedestrians killed by cars and lorries each year than cyclists (historically between 0 & 2 for pedestrian deaths caused by cyclists). TfL research also shows that in the vast majority of cases of incidents between cyclists and motorists, the fault lies with the motorist, and that’s after 1000’s of hours of training….. All the above said, as a cycling commuter and a motorist, I don’t think you can criticise one category more than another. There are complete idiots in both. For instance, if I had a tenner for every time I had seen a motorist with a phone clamped to their ear whilst driving I would be a very rich man.

By Nick

They could start by sweeping up the broken glass and filling in the potholes.

By James Graham

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