Oi! Greater Manchester. Time to sign up to the Cycle to Work Guarantee

Launched on the 28th October 2009, the Cycle to Work Guarantee is a voluntary initiative from the Department for Transport, that challenges businesses, colleges, local authorities, public sector and third sector organisations to become cycle friendly employers by making it easy for staff to cycle to and from work.

By signing up, your organisation can signal its commitment by providing the facilities and incentives to help your workforce become healthier, greener and more productive.

The 5 Guarantee Pledges are:

• Secure, safe, and accessible bike parking
• Good quality changing and locker facilities
• Offset the cost of cycling equipment and save on the tax through the 'Cycle to work scheme'
• Bike repair for cyclists on or near site
• Training, reward and incentive programmes to achieve targets for more cycling

The website has a section that lists the organisations that have committed to the Cycle to Work Guarantee. As of January 2010, Greater Manchester was not well represented. See below:

Bolton
Bolton PCT

Manchester
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service
NHS Manchester
University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust

Oldham
Oldham PCT

Salford
Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust

Stockport
Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council
Stockport College

If the place where you work, study, shop or play is not represented why not ask them to sign up.

Where Manchester leads, London follows ...only they seem to have forgotton about cycling!

Manchester prides itself on being the city that sets the pace. "Where Manchester leads, the rest follow" is a commonly heard phrase whether talking about the industrial revolution, computing, education, football, science or music.

Unfortunately at the Greater Manchester level this proud claim does not seem to include investment in cycling infrastructure and promotion.

Compared to other UK cities, cycling levels in Greater Manchester are very low. One reason for this may well be because of (no, not the rainfall) the low levels of investments in cycle infrastructure and cycle promotion. For the previous 3 years AGMA has invested the grand sum of £50K per year for marketing & promoting cycling across the 10 GM boroughs. Yep, thats right a whole £5K per district.  (This figure does not include officers salaries).

Contrast this with London. Earlier in January, Boris Johnson (London's cycling mayor) hosted a meeting in City Hall which brought together some of the UK’s leading bicycle manufacturers, distributors and retailers,  to discuss how the cycling industry could contribute to “London’s cycling revolution.” This meeting coincided with the announcement of an additional £300,000 of funding to a dozen local authorities in outer London to help them become “cycling boroughs.”

This followed his challenge to London in May 2009 "to get cycling" and announcement that in 2010 Transport for London (TfL) would be "investing a record £111m in cycling in London". The money would be spent on introducing the London Cycle Hire scheme, improving parking and road conditions for cyclists, education, training and promotion and the target is to increase cycling levels by 400% by 2025.

Please don't run away with the idea that I am a fan of Boris Johnson (I very much am not!) and in many ways he is only following through on earlier plans announced when Ken Livingston was Mayor. In February 2008, Livingstone had unveiled plans "to transform cycling and walking in London" which included measures that would ensure  "the needs of cyclists and pedestrians are given a higher priority on the Capital’s streets" and would make a significant contribution to tackling climate change, aiming to have "one in ten Londoners making a round trip by bike each day, and saving some 1.6 million tonnes of CO2 (equivalent to driving round the M25 55 million times) per year as Londoners increasingly choose to walk or cycle for short trips instead of taking their car."

But leaving aside my personal views of Boris Johnson at least he is actively promoting and funding cycling in London. So how is Greater Manchester planning to match this?  Well on 29th January the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA) Executive will meet in Rochdale Town Hall (Committee Rooms 1 & 2). Amongst the items on the agenda is a report entitled "LTP Finance Review".

Decipher the "local authority speak" and if the AGMA Executive votes to accept this report then whilst the support for the staff posts has been continued the funding for promoting cycling, walking and active travel has not yet been provided. (Previous years budgets were £50K, £20K and £25K respectively).

AGMA has publicly stated that it wants to increase cycling levels across Greater Manchester to help local authorities meet the challenges of tackling road congestion levels, improving air quality, reducing C02 emissions and helping people become healthier. Unfortunately they have yet to commit any serious funding for cycling and walking projects.

Wherever you live in Greater Manchester, the leader of your local council is a member of the AGMA Executive. If you think that AGMA should be investing more to support and encourage people to cycle more regularly in Greater Manchester then please contact your Council leader and tell them.

Council leaders and emails:

Bolton:           Cliff Morris         (cliff.morris@bolton.gov.uk)

Bury:              Bob Bibby          (r.a.bibby@bury.gov.uk)

Manchester:  Richard Leese  (r.leese@manchester.gov.uk)

Oldham:         Howard Sykes  (howard.sykes@oldham.gov.uk)

Rochdale:      Alan Taylor        (alan.taylor1@rochdale.gov.uk)

Salford:          John Merry        (Councillor.Merry@salford.gov.uk)

Stockport:      Dave Goddard (leader@stockport.gov.uk)

Tameside:     S. Roy Oldham (c/o susan.williams@tameside.gov.uk)

Trafford:          Matt Collidge   (matthew.colledge@trafford.gov.uk)

Wigan:            Peter Smith      (P.Smith@wigan.gov.uk)

Ditch that car and walk to school once a week!

The ‘Walk Once a Week’ scheme run by Living Streets has just been awarded £800, 000 by the Department of Health to expand the scheme to at least 900 more schools across England, including schools in the West Midlands as well as Greater Manchester, Tyne and Wear and Merseyside, where levels of childhood obesity are higher.

The scheme, which is currently running in schools across all London boroughs, encourages families to ditch the car and walk their children to school once a week. Children who walk to school one day a week are rewarded with a collectable metal badge for each month they take part.

Tony Armstrong, Chief Executive of Living Streets said:

“Increasing activity levels and reducing the risk of obesity is one of the major priorities for anyone involved in children’s health or education today.  But it’s often hard to know what actually works, and what to prioritise from tight budgets. 

“Walking to school is one of the best ways to get everyday activity into families’ lives- good for health, and making a positive difference in reducing congestion, pollution and carbon.  It’s also a great way to spend real quality time with your children.  Every school can take part in Walk Once a Week - we want even more children and families to take part this year.  Details of how to get involved can be found on our website.”

Details of which schools in Greater Manchester will be participating in the scheme have yet to be announced but lets hope the scheme is a success and that similar schemes can be developed in Greater Manchester to encourage parents try cycle with their children to school.

Integrated Transport Authority ? You're having a laugh!

On Friday 15th January, the Greater Manchester Integrated Transport Authority (GMITA) Capital Projects committee voted to continue the ban on any bicycles travelling on off-peak Metrolink tram services.

The recommendation for the ban was included in the "Implications of the Carriage of Bicycles on Trams" report submitted by Metrolink Director, Philip Purdy. This was supposedly a summation of the similarily entitled report by consultants Mott MacDonald, submitted to GMPTE in April 2009. GMPTE failed to respond to two seperate Freedom of Information Act requests made by local campaigners in September/October 2009 and a copy of the consultants report was not made publicly available until 3 hours after the GMITA committee had voted! Which seems a very strange way of upholding the claim GMPTE "consults the public and other stakeholders to improve public transport in Greater Manchester."  Even stranger was that even the Committee members did not seem to have been given a copy of the consultants report prior to the meeting.

The committee voted 7~5 to endorse the following recommendation:

"a) Members are asked to endorse the decision to continue with the current policy to forbid the carriage of bicycles on trams with the exception of folding cycles which should be fully encased."

Now, the Greater Manchester Integrated Transport Strategy claims it wants to encourage more trips to be made by bicycle and it considers that 2 to 5 miles is an ideal cycling distance. The GMPTE website states that: “we will continue to adopt a fully integrated approach to influencing travel behaviour with a range of measures to encourage more of the large number of shorter trips to be undertaken by bike or on foot rather than by the private car.”

Manchester's Love Your Bike campaigners have estimated that approximately 90% of the Greater Manchester population will be within a 2.5 mile cycle ride of a tram station when the new Metrolink services are completed. An ideal distance to encourage people to "integrate" a cycle and tram journey and yet the current Metrolink cycle carriage policy even bans the carriage of a folded Brompton bicycle (dimensions are only 58.5cm high x 54.5cm long x 27cm wide) unless it is fully encased.

Compare this with the dimensions of a typical double buggy pram which even when folded are much bigger at 104cm high x 39.5cm long x 74cm wide (See this example).  People can travel on all tram services with an unfolded double pram buggy. It would also appear to be permissible to attempt to travel on all tram services with golf caddys, a double bass (cased), skis and a wide range of other bulky and heavy items.

One group of cyclists that are inconvenienced by the GMPTE's continuing hostile attitude to integrating tram and cycle journeys are the St John's Ambulance - bicycle ambulance volunteers.  Based in Altrincham they regularly have to travel to Heaton Park to provide volunteer first aid services for a range of events. If they were allowed to take their bicycle ambulances on tram services then it would be a good example of an "integrated" transport system: Cycle to Altrincham tram stop, travel to Heaton Park tram stop and then cycle into and around the park.  Because of the current bike ban they need to hire a truck to transport their bicycle ambulances to Heaton Park!

Perhaps the full GMITA committee meeting on 12th February may wish to ponder the meaning of the word "integrated".

The non-magnificent 7 councillors included 3 Conservatives and 4 Liberal Democrats. If you think people should be able to combine a tram journey with a folded Brompton (not fully encased!) at any time or maybe even take their bike on a tram (off peak) for example on a Sunday morning to get easier access to the countryside then please do send a (polite) message to one (or more) of them.

Conservative
Dylan Butt (Trafford - Hale Barns)     (dylan.butt@trafford.gov.uk)
Ian Macdonald (Salford - Worsley)   (councillor.macdonald@salford.gov.uk)
Michael Winstanley (Wigan - Orrell) (M.Winstanley@wigan.gov.uk)

Liberal Democrats
Richard Knowles  - Chair (Oldham - Saddleworth South)  (richard.knowles@oldham.gov.uk)
David Sandiford (Manchester - Didsbury East)   (cllr.d.sandiford@manchester.gov.uk)
David White (Stockport - Davenport & Cale Green) (cllr.david.white@stockport.gov.uk)
Craig Wright (Stockport - Marple North)   (cllr.craig.wright@stockport.gov.uk)

The 5 Labour group committee members argued against the ban and voted for a deferment. They then voted against the ban. These were:
Jim Dawson (Salford - Swinton North)  (Councillor.Dawson@salford.gov.uk)
Andrew Fender (Manchester - Old Moat) (cllr.a.fender@manchester.gov.uk)
Peter Scott  (Stockport - Reddish North)  (scottsclp@aol.com)
Eunice Smethurst (Wigan - Abram)    (E.Smethurst@wigan.gov.uk)
Alan Whitehead (Tameside)                (c/o victoria.fletcher@tameside.gov.uk)


See also this MEN article GMPTE's 'dirty tricks' over bike ban on trams. 


and also David Ottewell's blog:  Metrolink bike ban ‘disgraceful’

Leading by example.....

Good to hear that Manchester City Council leader, Richard Leese was out and about on his bike last week...

This from "The Leader's Blog"

"Back on my bike this week for the first time since Christmas and a frighteningly close view of the cracks and holes that have appeared in the road surface along my normal route as a result of frost damage. Our Highways people are out inspecting the whole road network and will be putting a remediation plan together but an early estimate is that the extra repair work will cost at least £650,000.

The total additional cost of the freeze is likely to be well over a £1M but we won't be increasing Council Tax or cutting other things to pay for it. Manchester has followed a prudent budget course for many years keeping Council Tax increases to at or below the rate of inflation and making sure we have adequate reserves to cover occasions just such as this."

I am glad to hear that the Highways officers are out and about checking the roads but as an earlier post on this blog has highlighted there is a lack of consistency across Greater Manchester on the criteria used to decide which potholes will be repaired. (See When is a 'pothole' actionable?)

Manchester's criteria for deciding when to repair a pothole is 30mm (eg the pothole must be at least 30mm deep) which is not bad when compared to Salford's (50mm) but not as good as Wigan's 25mm.  Perhaps the new GM Integrated Transport Authority could take on the task of standardizing the size of potholes that cyclists have to avoid!

If you are out and about in Manchester and spot a pothole why not drop a line to "Environment on Call" - you never know they may have missed one!

Environment On Call can be contacted by:
email: contact@manchester.gov.uk
tel: 0161 954 9000
or via the Manchester City Council website reporting form.

Happy pothole spotting!

The criteria used by the 10 GM councils: 50mm (Salford), 40mm (Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford), 35mm (Rochdale), 30mm (Manchester),   25mm (Wigan).
Photo credit: Crumspall Labour blog (October 2007).

Metrolink - (not) leading the way to an integrated sustainable transport system

Cyclists on the Way. Bike & Ride is no empty promise, but a comprehensive offer for all friends of cycling. For example you'll get a detailed map which shows you which stations are equipped with bicycle parking space. You'll also find information about how to best transport your bicycle in our vehicles."

Considering all the discussion about the need to develop a sustainable transport system in Greater Manchester to help reduce congestion, C02 emissions, improve air quality and encourage people to make Smarter Choices - make more journeys by public transport, cycling or walking -  you would hope that the Bike & Ride quote above was the new Greater Manchester Integrated Transport Authority's policy on allowing bicycles to travel on Metrolink trams . Unfortunately, you may be very dissapointed.

On Friday 15th January the GMITA Capital Projects committee members are being asked to vote on two recommendations contained in Agenda Item 8. The Implications of the Carriage of Bicycles on Trams.

1) Members are asked to endorse the decision to continue with the current policy to forbid the carriage of bicycles on trams with the exception of folding cycles which should be fully encased.

2) Members are also asked to endorse that GMPTE should continue to provide investment for cycle facilities on the Metrolink network, rail stations and in any future proposals, such as the anticipated Park and Ride facilities

Recommendation 2 is great and would hopefully be supported by all apart from the most ardent cyclist-hating petrol head.

Unfortunately if the Committee votes for recommendation 1 as well breaking a pledge made way back in 2002 when the GMPTA (the previous name for GMITA) agreed in principle to allow off-peak cycle carriage on Metrolink Phase 3 trams - they will also continue to prevent the Greater Manchester system from integrating two sustainable modes of transport - the bicycle and tram.

It woud also continue a regretable policy that puts Manchester at odds with many progressive cities in Europe and across the world including Australia,Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Netherlands and the United States of America -all of which are very happy to allow bicycles to travel on their networks. Even the London Underground allows passengers to take bikes onto most sections of the system, even in the heart of the city such as on the Circle, District and Hammersmith and City lines, during off-peak hours.

Allowing bicycles to travel on off-peak trams would encourage more people to combine tram and cycle journeys for commuting, shopping and leisure, and be an effective way to reduce carbon emissions. This argument is given greater power when considering Greater Manchester's own transport strategy which suggests that between 2 and 5 miles is a perfect cycling distance, and that around 90% of the Greater Manchester population will soon be within a 2.5 mile cycle ride of a tram (when the hugely welcome new Metrolink services are completed).

The vote on this takes place tomorrow and Love Your Bike and the Greater Manchester Cycling Campaign are calling on anyone who can to contact the GMITA and urge committee members to honour the pledge made in 2002 and vote to allow cycle carriage on off-peak cycle trams. If you fancy adding your voice, please send your message to gmita@manchester.gov.uk

Unfortunately, at the moment the attitude of Metrolink and GMITA appears to be more along the lines of Cyclists in the Way!

PS The lovely Bike & Ride policy in from Nurnberg in Germany.....

2010 : The Year of the Bicycle ?

Well lets hope so.  There is plenty of evidence that increasing the number of people cycling can help reduce air pollution, traffic congestion, obesity levels and C02 emissions.  More positively, increasing cycling levels can help people become fitter, healthier as well as save money. (Re)designing and (re)engineering communities to make it easier, safer and more desirable to walk and cycle can also help to improve social cohesion at the community level. 

Some of this work will require funding and unfortunately Manchester was unsuccessful in its 2008 bid to become the first Cycling Demonstration City and neither did Greater Manchester get shortlisted in 2009 for the Sustainable Travel City funding.




But 2010 will provide many opportunities (and challenges) to increase the resources available to improve the cycling facilities and level of cycling promotion within Greater Manchester.

Here are a couple of things to look out for:


Local Transport Plan (LTP3) for Greater Manchester.  This Plan will decide how much funding will be allocated for promoting "active travel" (cycling & walking) and will be drafted and consulted on during 2010.   Various campaign groups will be lobbying to increase the resources made available for cycling.  Give them a hand if you can.


Local Development Framework (LDF).  During 2010 many of the Greater Manchester councils will be consulting on their draft Core Strategies.  When completed these LDFs will replace the Unitary Development Plans (UDPs) for each Council.  Now this may all sound very, very dull (and it often is) but these documents will set the planning frameworks to 2025 (or beyond).  So what, I hear you ask?  Well here is one example, if you want better cycle parking facilities outside buildings, offices and local shops then lobby your Council to include better cycle parking guidance in their Core Strategy document. This will set the amounts of cycle parking that the Planning Departments will require any new (or redeveloped) buildings to provide.  (See the No Place to Park (My Bike) post)

Manchester's Climate Change Action Plan includes some interesting references to developing cycle facilities and cycling promotion. These include:

• Smarter choices will be easier to make. Cycle and pedestrian routes will cross the city region, making it easy to get around without cars. Our workplaces will encourage cycling and walking to work with storage, changing facilities and bike rental schemes 

• Invest in active transport such as a City Centre network of Cycle Centres; pedestrian and cycleroutes; and interchange and storage facilities at public transport and cycling destinations.
  

• Support businesses and other organisations in developing sustainable and low carbon travel plans, including car sharing, car pools, public transport ticket schemes, workplace cycle facilities and flexible working.

• Develop mechanisms to encourage more people to cycle and walk as part of their own travel plan.

• There will be workplace facilities for cyclists, walkers and runners and advice available for those looking to travel more sustainably as well as adult bicycle training to give people the confidence to travel by bicycle.

• A major programme of development and investment will have extended the reach andintegration of the city’s public transport network and there will be a wider network of cycle paths available, too.

Which all sound nice and lovely, but as with all plans the hard part is to convert the nice words into real actions. So here is one challenge for 2010. Another is to encourage the other 9 Greater Manchester councils to develop Climate Change Action Plans that go beyond what Manchester is promising to do.

Local Elections.  All 10 Greater Manchester councils will be holding elections for local councillors in May.  Even if you don't want to vote for them..... why not ask the candidates if they support increasing the number of people cycling and what they will do to achieve this ?

This stuff works! Supporting increased cycle training and promotion can deliver. Last December, Cycling England reported that the use of bicycles had increased by 27 per cent on average in the six cycle demonstration towns it supported between 2005 and 2008. Cycling England calclated that "each pound spent on cycling in Aylesbury, Brighton and Hove, Darlington, Derby, Exeter and Lancaster delivered benefits worth £2.59 in reduced mortality as people became more physically active"  (Cycle towns show benefit)

So have a Happy New Year and lets hope that "to start cycling again" or "to cycle more" are two New Year Resolutions that many more people get to keep.