Cycling England

Colchester is a large self-contained town with a rural hinterland of villages. The majority (68 per cent) of residents work in Colchester, but for those working further afield, there are three railway stations across the town. Although Colchester had an existing cycle network of on-road facilities, quiet streets and dedicated paths, it was incomplete, with some barriers to the town centre and other destinations.

The aim of Colchester’s Cycling Town programme is to create an improved town with cycling at its heart and facilities of European quality. Priorities for cycle accessibility improvements include the town’s railway stations (Colchester North Station, Colchester Town Centre and The Hythe) and the town centre, as well as other key destinations such as the University, Colchester Institute, regeneration areas and the General Hospital.

During year one, infrastructure improvements concentrated on upgrading and refurbishing existing routes in northern Colchester - rejuvenating routes between Highwoods, the town centre and North Station - allowing uninterrupted journeys by bike for the first time. Highwoods is a substantial residential area to the north of Colchester with a number of inhabitants who regularly commute to Colchester’s main station and the town centre by bike. Throughout year two of Cycle Colchester, the routes have been completed and extensively marketed and promoted to demonstrate what can be achieved elsewhere in the town.

Cycling-tailored Personalised Travel Planning has also been delivered to residents in the Highwoods area, following the route upgrade. The aim of this element of work was to provide guidance and advice on cycling to the 4,200 properties to encourage people to cycle more often. A team of cycling advisers were recruited to visit residents over a six week period throughout October and November 2009 to provide information and advice. Personal Travel Planning was well received with 42 per cent of residents participating. A further survey of residents is to be carried out during 2010 to assess whether residents have changed their mode of travel for shorter journeys.

The 2009 programme of events focussed on a ‘Summer of Cycling’. This aimed to encourage people to give travelling by bike a try. A family audience was specifically targeted through a range of activities in town, including advertising/marketing, events, Dr Bike sessions and partnership opportunities. The local radio station, Heart FM, supported the Summer of Cycling on air, and there were ‘Heart Angels’ appearances at the Cycling Festival and High Woods route launch.

To help increase numbers of children cycling to school, Essex County Council became accredited to deliver Bikeability Level 2, enabling the Council to deliver training directly and convert all existing primary school training to Bikeability. A Parent Plus package, for parents of pupils who have received Bikeability training at school, has been developed and launched. This encourages parents to learn to cycle, or regain their confidence riding a bike, at the same time as their children receive Bikeability training.

In addition to this, the Colchester team is building and maintaining strong relationships with schools in the area through the development of Cycling Town partner schools. The aim is to encourage full participation in training, events and other initiatives – with the ultimate ambition of 11 schools being awarded Partner Schools Status by the end of 2010. To achieve Partner School status the schools will be required to develop Travel Plans with a cycling component and an up-to-date Road Safety Policy, and offer Bikeability training to students. In return, the schools will receive financial support for cycle infrastructure, such as parking and improved or new access routes.

Future planned infrastructure developments include increasing the number and quality of cycle parking places at Colchester North station and improving access routes and signs into and from the station. A number of new cycle routes will also be constructed, including commuter routes connecting the town centre with Greenstead and Hythe Station.

Training packages for secondary schools, colleges and University of Essex students and staff will be developed and will include Bikeability Level 3 training, as well as activities such as Dr Bike and cycle maintenance training. Adult and parent training packages will continue to be developed and delivered.

A marketing and promotion campaign will begin with the implementation of the Cycle Stars project which will recruit and follow families who are new to cycling and provide support to them in a fun way to encourage them to travel by bike. This will start in spring 2010, running through to summer 2010 and resulting in a short film which will premiere at an event in the town centre cinema to promote cycling in Colchester.

Visit www.cyclecolchester.org.uk for more information.