Cycling strategy

Safeguarding vulnerable road users and reducing casualties, whilst encouraging increased physical activity, is a key priority for this strategy.

This strategy along with work carried out by Essex County Council, the Highways Authority, and Road Safety Partnership will be looking to challenge and improve road behaviour by all users and make the roads as safe as possible.

To make cycling safer, we want to:

Develop a safer and more legible cycle network

We want to work with partners and stakeholders to develop strategic network development plans and ensure that our district has an up to date Cycling Action Plan.

Use development sites to connect existing and new cycling infrastructure

A number of the development sites in the district lend themselves to connecting with existing cycle infrastructure in order to develop a coherent and consistent cycle network within the towns and the district.

Create intra-urban links

While focus will be centred on the main towns, intra-urban links will be an important part of this vision. Experience has shown that investing in and creating such routes provide societal benefits with regard to mobility, economy, health and the climate change.

Improve the cycle network in rural areas

A cycle network in rural areas is a main priority of this strategy and by improving these routes they can be promoted as destinations for leisure and through that, help boost the rural economy. Our aim is to improve routes to enhance access to the countryside and to improve accessibility to local facilities for residents.

Designate country lanes as ‘quiet lanes’

Quiet lanes are a positive way that we can, in partnership with Essex County Council, make a positive contribution. The designated quiet lanes:

• provide a chance for people to walk, cycle and horse ride in a safer environment
• widen transport choice; and protect the character and tranquillity of country lanes

Improve junctions and links

Accidents involving cyclists often occur at junctions and on roundabouts where there is more likely to be conflict in movements. Working with Essex County Council and other partners to tackle this issue we will:

• work with cycle groups to identify junctions that can be a barrier to cycling and need improving;
• review pedestrian guard-rails to consider where this can be removed;
• review Advanced Stop Lines, seeking to increase coverage and depth where necessary; and
• Lobby Essex County Council to consider trialling innovations such as advanced cycle signals, ‘All Green’ phases and two stage right turns where appropriate.

We also want to work with partners to see the introduction of more Flagship Routes across the district. A Flagship Route is a key corridor - providing safer, faster and more direct access to one or more key attractors - town centres, employment sites, education establishments, transport hubs, visitor attractions and existing/proposed developments.

Support and promote the provision of bike racks

We will support and promote the provision of high-quality cycle parking at key destinations such as town centres, leisure facilities and railway stations.

Build-in the cycle infrastructure on development sites

All development sites will be expected to include cycle infrastructure, in order that internal short trips can be made by bicycle. In addition, all development sites should consider strategic cycle plans and create strategic links to key attractors and/or existing networks/quiet ways.

Work with partners to maintain roads and routes

Essex County Council is responsible for the maintenance of the public highways, including segregated cycle ways. Properly maintained cycle facilities are key to maintaining and growing the number of people who cycle. We will work with Essex Highways to help prioritise more frequent and good maintenance of our cycle network.

Work with partners to provide clear signage

Cycle traffic signs provide direction information, identification of infrastructure as being available for cycle users, and instructions or warnings. We will work with Essex Highways to provide a clear and consistent standard of good quality, well-placed cycle signage - to an appropriate density, with provision of journey times where possible.

Work with partners to improve access to people with disabilities

Cycling should be accessible to people of all ages and abilities. The Equality Act 2010 places a duty on public sector authorities to comply with the Public Sector Equality Duty to carry out their functions. This includes making reasonable adjustments to the existing built environment to ensure the design of new infrastructure is accessible to all.

For this strategy to be successful, it is imperative that funding is provided and sustained over a number of years. We will work with partners including Essex County Council to ensure a consistent level of revenue and capital funding to support the delivery of this strategy.

We will take a proactive, positive approach in taking advantage of funding opportunities with Essex Highways when they arise.

Increasing the utilisation and prioritisation of other funding sources such as developer contributions and central Government grants/allocations will also be required.

We will explore regional funding options such as:

• Local Highways Panels (LHPs)
• South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP) funding
• DfT CWIS2 Funding
• Local Growth Funds (LGFs)

The ECC Local Highways Panel (LHP) plays an important role in supporting local highway schemes in Braintree. Cycle improvements should be considered alongside other significant LHP schemes.

Developer Contribution

Planning contributions from new developments can either provide funding towards new or improved cycle infrastructure or actually construct schemes as part of the development, or through highways work agreements off-site.

There is a need to change the image of cycling across the district to a safe, normal and enjoyable everyday activity. In order to do this, we want to:

• work with Active Essex, Visit Essex, Essex Police and other influential brands to run campaigns which change behaviour
• distribute cycle maps to residents moving into new housing developments
• break down the perceptual barriers which stop people from cycling such weather, safety and inconvenience
• communicate safety messages to both drivers and cyclists without overstating the risks
• promote the district as a destination for cyclists
• encourage residents to participate in local initiatives such as “LovetoRide” Essex
• encourage high profile local residents to endorse cycling
• support national campaigns such as “Bike Week” and “Cycle to Work” day

We want to ensure that the promotion and development of cycling is embedded in everything we do. We want to work with:

• health partners and practitioners to develop initiatives which raise awareness around the benefits of cycling
• public transport operators to investigate opportunities for bike carriage, access to platforms and secure parking facilities
• parish and town councils to identify new routes and highlight issues with the maintenance of existing routes
• voluntary groups to help design and signpost routes as well as facilitate cycle skills training and bike maintenance workshops

We want to incentivise people to use their bikes, instead of their cars, especially on shorter journeys. To achieve this, we want to:

• encourage more adults to take up “bike-ability” training
• work with partners/community groups to encourage cycling within the community
• support charities who already promote cycling
• work with large employers and schools to incentivise cycling
• organise high profile events such as car free days in town centres or bike festivals
• promote cycling amongst children with campaigns such as “Go Ride”

Electric bikes not only make cycling accessible to people who might otherwise find it difficult, such as the elderly and those with health problem, they also make the journey a lot quicker.

Cargo bikes are bikes designed to carry loads and are popular with delivery companies and food vendors.

Both electric bikes and cargo bikes are to be promoted for use throughout the district. 

We need to monitor and evaluate to make sure we are achieving our aims. Monitoring will take several forms including the use of data from continuous automatic counters on walking and cycling routes and detailed user surveys.