Infrastructure Plans
With very low levels of cycle infrastructure in the area, alongside many pedestrian paths that are in a poor state of repair, coupled also with some paths being disabled unfriendly, it is essential that this area has a “plan” for moving forward to remedy the obvious problems. Our ultimate aim is to work towards the infrastructure defined by a Local Cycling Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) for the Whitby area, which is scheduled for provision by North Yorkshire Council (NYC) during the 2023-2024 financial year. Until this is available we will utilise whatever proposals come out of the community to meet people’s requirements. Additionally, the LCWIP document is only likely to define infrastructure needed local to Whitby, and so we will need to utilise other proposals, as well as work with other bodies such as the North Yorks Moors National Park for the infrastructure required further afield.
Infrastructure Prioritisation
One thing we do say regarding relative prioritisation of required routes / paths is as follows. We should start from Whitby and work outwards (impact on the most people possible, and as the majority of the population lives within the town, then paths there will give most benefit).
- For cycling, this means create paths connecting to the Cinder Track first, providing a way of getting to the Cinder Track from all parts of town, and then consider Whitby-Ruswarp, Whitby-Sandsend, and only then think of paths further out (e.g resurfacing bits of the Cinder Track) unless some clear need and associated benefit is defined.
- For walking, this is simpler in that the path network is largely in place (albeit some paths will need improving in quality). Paths currently have little prioritisation over vehicles, so develop alternate routes as well as crossings providing for the main routes that people will walk to go about their daily routine.
Local Cycling Walking Infrastructure Plans
In 2017-2018 the UK Government developed a framework for defining what infrastructure will be required for effective active travel. This utilises a document called a “Local Cycling Walking Infrastructure Plan” (LCWIP). This document is a prerequisite for active travel development, and so we urgently such a document(s) defining for our area.
Whitby Area LCWIP
The creation of an LCWIP for the Whitby area was included in the 2023-2024 NYC budget, and consultants WSP have been contracted to produce this document, covering stages 1 to 6 of the DfT’s LCWIP guidance.
Stakeholders : Whitby & Esk Valley Active Travel, Sustrans, North Yorks Moors National Park, Whitby Town Council and North Yorkshire Council.
Timescales : The first meeting with stakeholders took place in April 2024, with an eye to completion by early 2025. It may involve an amount of community involvement, likely late 2024, which we will share if / when it is required.
Status : Meeting 1 covered the scope of the LCWIP, and outline ideas / problems to be addressed. Meeting 2 presented draft network maps for cycling and walking and a general discussion of inital thoughts. A site visit happened in mid September and clarified some of the detail issues around the draft network maps.
Why Cycle Infrastructure ?
There are ample surveys that say that the public perception of roads is that they are simply too dangerous for cycling, see the Dept for Transport stats 2011-2020 showing 66% consider it too dangerous to cycle on roads, see also the recent IPSOS survey in the references showing that 71% support measures to make it easier to walk and cycle more (more people cycling means more people leaving the car at home, hence more space on the road for people using a car … everyone should be in favour if we lived in a logical world). There are significantly more vehicles on the road today (40+million) than in 1990 (23million) and in 1970 (13million), and those vehicles are generally larger and have faster acceleration, so consequently more dangerous for cyclists (and pedestrians). To address the perception of lack of safety on the roads, it is essential that quality safe-cycling facilities are provided, by way of cycle infrastructure to UK Gov LTN 1/20. With particular reference to the lack of cycling highlighted in Whitby, there is little to no infrastructure currently available to overcome the lack of safety for cycling on roads. Consequently, cycle infrastructure should be provided in the Whitby urban area with some urgency, otherwise it will continue to impact on the figures for the Scarborough borough as well as the overall NYC area, not to mention on the physical and mental well-being of local residents.
If we look at what cycle infrastructure is advised for the speed of a road (the figure below, directly from LTN 1/20), for an urban road at 30mph, we cannot simply place cyclists in with general traffic since, as mentioned earlier, the majority of people do not feel safe. Consequently, if we cannot provide cycle infrastructure, due to cost issues, or due to lack of road space, then we need to drop the speed limit to 20mph. This aligns with the 20sPlenty campaign for residential and central areas. This factor effectively guides our strategy. We should aim to have bicycle paths to connect between areas, and have 20mph within areas to provide a level of safety so that a modal shift in transport choice could take place. This strategy also provides the most cost effective way of reaching this point, since providing cycling segregation through residential areas (even if it was possible) would be significantly more expensive than imposing a simple 20mph limit.
All drivers of motor vehicles should be fully in favour of segregated cycle infrastructure :-
- A person on a bicycle using a cycle lane means that bicycle is not in front of them on the road causing them to be delayed.
- A person opting to use a bicycle rather than a vehicle means one fewer vehicle in front of them on the road, and one less vehicle competing for a car parking space.
- It also means less pollution and less noise.
Where are the downsides?
Whitby Community Network Proposal
Prior to the Whitby area being promised an LCWIP one of our trustees, as part of Whitby Community Network, developed an outline cycle network proposal. This is shown below.
Routes and parking facilities coloured turquoise are existing facilities. Routes coloured yellow are proposed ideas that would facilitate modal shift towards much more bicycle usage.
Clearly this has not been through a rigorous process of identifying needs and considering all options. That will be provided by the LCWIP work when it is provided. If you have any comments on these proposals please do let us know what you think.