Agenda item - Transforming Cities Fund cycling programme

Agenda item

Transforming Cities Fund cycling programme

Presentation by Principal Transport Planner

Minutes:

The Committee received a presentation by Keith Morgan, Principal Transport Planner, detailing Nottingham’s cycling and walking infrastructure programme.

 

The main points were as follows:

 

 i.  via collaborative working between authorities in the D2N2 area, a strategic network of walking and cycling routes has been created under a ‘Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan’, which will be submitted to the DfT for approval;

 

ii.  since January 2016, the ‘Nottingham City Cycling Design Guide’, written by Sustrans, has been in place and, following publication of the DfT Local Transport Note 1/20 in July 2020, the City has updated the Guide, including having higher levels of segregation where possible;

 

iii.  Transforming Cities Funding (TCF) of £161m has been shared between Nottingham and Derby City Councils and will be used over the next few years towards growth corridors / hubs, and the schemes must be delivered by March 2023;

 

iv.  part of the TCF (£40m) is being used towards cycling and walking routes within Nottingham City and the surrounding areas, such as around the Broadmarsh and out to Nottingham Trent University and East Midlands Airport;

 

v.  funding has also been received via the Governments’ Active Travel Fund (ATF), which gives authorities a year to deliver schemes, and the City has / will use this to fund schemes such as E-scooters, pop-up cycle parking, creation of 20mph zones and Nottingham Bike Aid;

 

vi.  the ATF can be withdrawn by the DfT if public consultation on proposals is not undertaken, therefore the City has, alongside its normal consultation, a website for the public to use at https://keepnottinghammovingsafely.commonplace.is

 

In response to a question regarding whether there is guidance or a minimum requirement for shared surface / segregation, Mr Morgan stated that, depending on usage and local needs, a 2-way cycle track should be a minimum of 3mt wide with an additional 2mt for pedestrians, so a total of 5mt wide ideally.

 

He further stated that in an urban environment, this size is only possible if there is a willingness to lose road space in favour of cycle/walking tracks.

 

In response to a question as to whether the current pop-up cycle routes would become permanent, Mr Morgan stated that those that were put in place in September 2020 have been monitored, and local residents consulted, and some would be removed while others would be made permanent, such as Carlton Road and Wells Road, once redesigned for permanent use.

 

Kevin Sharman (County) also stated that the County Council were currently consulting on where to install permanent tracks, utilising the ATF it had received, within the Greater Nottingham area, such as existing pop-ups in Beeston and Rushcliffe.

 

In response to a question regarding consultation for those without internet access, Mr Morgan stated that leaflet drops to houses within a scheme area and public meetings (where covid restrictions allow) were also undertaken.

 

During discussion, the Committee stated that:

 

  vii.  it welcomed, as did the Student’s Union, that road-safety issues in the Derby Road area were being addressed as students have previously lost their lives in accidents there;

 

 viii.  it was also welcome that the Middleton Boulevard pop-up scheme had been made permanent for the safety of both cyclists and pedestrians;

 

  ix.  in terms of being bold and passing road space over to cycling / walking, it had been shown that this worked with the current closure to traffic of Victoria Embankment, which had now become a great open public space;

 

  x.  consideration of how to make Trent Bridge safe for cyclists so that they use the road, rather than the pavement;

 

In response, Mr Sharman stated that this is difficult as Trent Bridge is within an Air Quality Management Area, therefore nothing can be done that might increase traffic congestion and impact air quality. However, consideration is currently being given to using TCF monies to put a cycle bridge across the Trent somewhere close to Trent Bridge;

 

  xi.  decisions need to be made once the pandemic is over, in respect of cycle / walking tracks and how to encourage greater use of public transport;

 

  xii.  consideration should be given to moving the tram stop on Chilwell Road as it is unsafe as currently cyclists have to go on to a narrow pedestrian route due to the layout. A layout such as that on Middle Road would be preferable;

 

 xiii.  the Councils should consider how they can publicise, and possibly incorporate in highway design, a recent change to the Highway Code, giving priority to the most vulnerable road user, so that the public are aware.

 

Resolved to note the presentation and that Mr Sharman will respond direct to Councillor Kerry in respect of the Chilwell Road tram stop (point xii. above).