| Bristol was named first Cycling City back in 2008, with | | | | may be that a new approach to Bristol home security |
| total funding for the scheme (including local inputs) | | | | is the prime issue here. When out and about, a sturdy |
| amounting to £22.8 million. "Cycling City (says the | | | | lock can go a long way to deterring thieves, as can a |
| council) represents clear recognition of our solid | | | | clearly marked traceable bike (Avon and Somerset |
| commitment to promote and encourage cycling | | | | police recommend you register your bike with ). |
| through better infrastructure, training and promotion." | | | | However, Bristol policeman Andy Bennet has said that |
| The aim of the Cycling City project for the Councils | | | | "One of the big challenges for cyclists is finding secure |
| was to ‘double the number' of ‘regular' cyclists | | | | parking outside the centre. I know this will change over |
| in Bristol. Since the launch, the city has seen highs and | | | | time, however if my experience is anything to go by, |
| lows in its attempts to promote cycling, having spent | | | | expensive locks aren't always enough." He notes that |
| just £1.7 million as of October 2009. | | | | Bristol bike thefts rise in the summer months: so be |
| What's happened so far? | | | | extra vigilant and make sure your lock is up to scratch |
| Residents in certain areas will have benefited from | | | | (many cyclists now use two), and since the police do |
| new cycle paths; with 13 miles worth of new | | | | recover hundreds of stolen bikes every year, do mark |
| improvements planned in by 2011, and those already | | | | your bike so it's traceable. Underlining the situation in |
| built seeing heavy use (for some, 5800 monthly trips, | | | | Bristol is the blog Stolen Bristol which offers safety tips |
| according to the council). The very successful Cycle | | | | and a forum for those who have lost expensive bikes |
| Maps have had to vastly increase their print runs year | | | | to attempt to recover them. Its very existence, of |
| on year, to cope with demand; and the ‘Bristol | | | | course, underscores the problem which Bristol may |
| Biggest Bike Ride' saw a 40% increase in entrants in | | | | face in tackling the issue. |
| 2009, with community bicycle groups, bike shops, | | | | With regard to safety concerns about Bristol cycling, |
| community groups and charities all showing enthusiasm | | | | these come both from pedestrians and from cyclists |
| for organising bike rides to take advantage of the | | | | themselves. The safety of cyclists on Bristol roads is |
| scheme's promotional platform (the events page of | | | | consistently highlighted by cyclists who feel that cars |
| Better By Bike, the face which Cycling City presents | | | | and lorries are not aware, or considerate, of bikes |
| to the public, is crammed full of cycling days out). | | | | alongside or behind them, and that paths are not |
| As well as the new bike paths, Bristolians may also | | | | adequate or conforming to safety standards. Bristol |
| have noticed the Better By Bike representatives at | | | | Cycling Campaign cautions that some Bristol roads |
| key commuting spots like the Southville footbridge; the | | | | have unsafe attributes: cyclists are often confronted |
| Hire Bike racks (for example by the Bristol Royal | | | | with vehicles turning left across their path due to |
| Infirmary); and of course the many events which have | | | | placement of bike lanes, a situation addressed in |
| been visible in the city centre and ongoing initiatives | | | | Denmark and in the Netherlands by using preferential |
| such as the Mud Dock Cafe's discounted bike | | | | traffic light systems which prioritise cyclists and |
| maintenance sessions at Bristol Waterfront or the new | | | | pedestrians (Bristol Council is investigating implementing |
| South Bristol 20mph zones. Other Bristol bike-related | | | | these types of systems, as this recent report shows). |
| projects gaining publicity via the Bristol Better By Bike | | | | CTC Bristol and the Bristol Cycling Campaign both |
| news forums include a new cycling project for | | | | stress the responsibility of cyclists to use the road |
| disabled adults and children called All Abilities- which | | | | lawfully and sensibly, and both promote regular training |
| helps those who are less able to use standard bikes | | | | workshops; the Cycling City campaign has also pushed |
| to get cycling- and the Bristol Bike Project, a charitable | | | | safety, offering high-vis jackets as prizes in |
| initiative which provides tools, materials and support for | | | | competitions. Avon and Somerset Police and the |
| refugees, homeless and other vulnerable persons to | | | | University both offer cycling proficiency tests. |
| build their own bicycles in order to give them an | | | | The recent increase in cycling accidents in Bristol over |
| independent source of transport. | | | | the last few years may actually be deceptive; since |
| There have also been many commendable attempts | | | | given the likely increase in cycles on Bristol roads |
| by Better by Bike to initiate newcomers into cycling; | | | | overall, it is impossible to tell if the relative number of |
| including subsidised riding lessons, bike maintenance | | | | cyclists who are involved in accidents has risen in |
| workshops (including women-focused training sessions) | | | | comparison. A spokesperson from Sustrans said |
| and competitions to win cycling gear. Bristol University | | | | recently (of the rise in Bristol bike accidents) : "Some |
| has got on board with a free Cycle Surgery for | | | | of it will be cyclists' behaviour, some of it will be |
| students and staff to get their bikes up to standard for | | | | motorists' behaviour.[...]What it does tell us is we need |
| the commute. | | | | to invest into cycling facilities [to increase safety]". |
| Some concerns about the way forward? | | | | Only time will tell whether the Cycling City initiative will |
| Bristol has always had a vibrant community of cyclists | | | | result in raising awareness of safety issues from both |
| and this scheme appears to have proved the catalyst | | | | drivers and cyclists, to go along with the new cycle |
| for many of those who had fallen away to rejoin the | | | | lanes. Without a decrease in the number of cars and |
| cycling community. However, some biking groups have | | | | lorries using the roads alongside cyclists, it is debatable |
| reservations about the limitation of the Cycling City | | | | whether road safety will cease to be a challenge in |
| scheme. While welcoming the opportunities which the | | | | Bristol in the near future if the council's aims to put |
| funding has brought for local cyclists, some | | | | ‘between 100 000 and 150,000 new cyclists on the |
| commentators have raised concerns that the aim to | | | | road' are successful. Likewise, the concerns of |
| ‘double' the number of cyclists could pose problems | | | | pedestrians- particularly those of Bristol's blind |
| given two factors: the safety of cycling in Bristol, | | | | community, who recently branded Bristol cyclists as a |
| where over half of all commuters travel to work by | | | | safety hazard on the city's footpaths- are unlikely to |
| car (2001 Census); and security issues- since Bristol | | | | be fully allayed unless cyclists are put off leaving |
| city remains one of the UK hotspots for bicycle theft. | | | | incomplete or unsafe cycle paths and compete for |
| The Bristol Cycling Campaign is a community group | | | | space on the pavements. Bristol Council claims more |
| which aims to improve local cycling and transport | | | | cyclists will create more safety as they reach "critical |
| infrastructure and which focuses on safety issues for | | | | mass". Only time will tell if this is true in practice. |
| cyclists and other related issues. While actively | | | | The future of cycling in Bristol is by no means assured, |
| engaging with the Cycling City consultations and | | | | but the enthusiasm and determination of local cyclists |
| making an effort to take part in events and contribute | | | | has gone a long way in pushing the issue to both the |
| to discussions, the response to their attempts to | | | | council and the public. The next step for the Council is |
| engage with the council was, so they report, not | | | | focusing on the home-school journey, and on particular |
| always positive. The Campaign, which keeps in touch | | | | communities with programmes, events and funding |
| with members via newsletters and regular events, has | | | | aimed at specific localities and school premises, as well |
| found that their comments on council proposals have | | | | as continuing to target commuters in Bristol with the |
| not been received favourably; they also claim access | | | | Workplace Cycle Champion scheme. It's certainly an |
| to consultations, and opportunities for feedback on the | | | | exciting time to be a cyclist in Bristol; one of the most |
| Cycle City plans, have been limited. There is a list of | | | | important things for the coming months will be the |
| the infrastructure projects in the Bristol Cycling City | | | | productive and useful dialogue which has opened up |
| pipeline here: the Cycling Campaign's criticisms (for | | | | between cyclists (both seasoned and those new to |
| example of the Cumberland Basin proposal) have | | | | biking), car owners, local government and the Bristol |
| included flagging up safety issues, with comments that | | | | community. Bristol cyclists are lucky to have such a |
| plans are "not in accord with DfT guidance." The | | | | vibrant and committed group of bike-lovers |
| Campaign has recently held meetings with the Cycling | | | | championing their cause; we can only hope that the |
| City Project Manager Ed Plowden to discuss their | | | | Cycling City funding continues moving Bristol into a |
| concerns; the outcome of which has not yet been | | | | positive new era for commuting cyclists. |
| published. | | | | For more information see "Greater Bristol Cycling City: |
| With regard to bike thefts, since around 50% of bikes | | | | The Delivery Strategy 2008-2011" which is available on |
| are actually stolen from the victims' home premises, it | | | | the Council website. |