Our strategy
We have set out the following strategic actions to deliver alongside our partners and stakeholders such as Essex County Council Highways and Sustrans, the growth in cycling that we want to see.
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: 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. 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. 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. 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. Quiet lanes are a positive way that we can, in partnership with Essex County Council,
make a positive contribution. The designated quiet lanes: 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: 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.
We will support and promote the provision of high-quality cycle parking at key
destinations such as town centres, leisure facilities and railway stations. 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. 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. 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. 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: 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. 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: We want to ensure that the promotion and development of cycling is embedded in everything
we do. We want to work with: We want to incentivise people to use their bikes, instead of their cars, especially on
shorter journeys. To achieve this, we want to: 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.
Action 1: Create coherent cycle networks
Develop a safer and more legible cycle network
Use development sites to connect existing and new cycling infrastructure
Create intra-urban links
Improve the cycle network in rural areas
Designate country lanes as ‘quiet lanes’
Improve junctions and links
Support and promote the provision of bike racks
Build-in the cycle infrastructure on development sites
Work with partners to maintain roads and routes
Work with partners to provide clear signage
Work with partners to improve access to people with disabilities
Action 2: Secure funding opportunities
Developer Contribution
Action 3: Promote cycling and cycling
facilities
Action 4: Work with partners to promote
cycling
Action 5: Encourage changes in behaviour
Action 6: Promote electric and cargo
bikes
Action 7: Monitor and evaluate