Cycling England

Darlington was the only town selected to be both a Cycling Demonstration Town and a Sustainable Travel Demonstration Town during 2005-08. Despite being compact and flat, Darlington had relatively low levels of cycling in 2005. Darlington’s goals were to build major improvements to existing cycle infrastructure, including a new crossing over the busy A66, and links into the main railway station and the town centre; to install high quality, secure cycle parking at key locations; and to implement a sustained programme of marketing, cycle training, events and travel plans.

Darlington has completed several infrastructure projects, including upgrades to the town’s radial routes which have created easier access to the town centre and improved cycling conditions. The result is 22 kilometres of additional cycle routes, doubling Darlington’s network to 41 kilometres.

New access points have also been created to major cycle routes, such as a link to the cycle path alongside the Eastern Transport Corridor which has received much praise from local residents and ward councillors. Work has been completed on a new access point to route 14 of the National Cycle Network which connects Darlington to Stockton and also links Middleton St George to Darlington town centre. An extended trial to allow cycling through the pedestrianised area of Darlington’s town centre was a success and, following a consultation in February 2009, it was decided that access for cyclists can continue on a permanent basis.

During 2008 and 2009, over 250 additional cycle parking spaces were installed in Darlington’s schools, taking the total number to over 1,250. This means there are now cycle parking facilities in 32 of the 38 schools in the borough. As well as this, Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College is providing a secure covered shelter which will accommodate 80 cycles.

Alongside these infrastructure improvements, Darlington has been encouraging cycling through a number of promotional events and initiatives. Working in partnership with the Council events team, the Leukaemia Research Big Bikeathon saw more than 100 children take part and the Cycling Festival attracted over 1,000 visitors. Darlington also received extensive local media coverage, including regional BBC and ITV stations, when it hosted stage 6 of the Tour of Britain and used the opportunity to promote the town’s Medal Motion campaign (aimed at children). This involved asking primary school pupils to complete and submit travel diaries covering two school weeks. Over 3,800 diaries were returned – a 67 per cent increase on the previous campaign.

Additional activity includes the implementation of an innovative project to encourage teenage girls to cycle. This project was run by Darlington Media Group, with support from Darlington Borough Council, and involved establishing partner groups with teenage girls in Bremen in Germany - a town with a strong teenage cycling culture. The project resulted in a DVD and book being produced. The group have also applied for additional funding to extend the pool of bikes that the girls have been using.

The Darlington Cycle Map has also been updated and a pack of self-guided ride leaflets published, containing short self-guided ride descriptions and maps which are aimed at new or less confident cyclists. The routes are designed to take no longer than 35 minutes. Seven new pocket-sized route maps are planned to be added during 2010 – these will show the radial routes into the town centre.

The priority for the next phase of the infrastructure programme is to ensure that all seven radial routes are complete. Major events planned in 2010 include a workplace cycling challenge, the Darlington Cycling Festival, and a series of guided rides covering a number of routes. The Darlington Cycling Festival has been an annual event for five years and is increasing in popularity and size each year. The 2010 festival will have a health theme.

Visit www.dothelocalmotion.co.uk for more information.