Cycling England

With a population of 240,000, Stoke-on-Trent is benefiting from significant investment from Cycling England. Stoke-on-Trent already has over 152 kilometres of newly surfaced cycle routes, 80 kilometres of which is off-road on greenways, canal towpaths and river paths. Despite residents’ proximity to the expanding network, Stoke-on-Trent had the lowest levels of cycling to work and school across the programme.

Stoke-on-Trent’s cycling programme has identified three key barriers to cycling - poor perception of cycling, lack of opportunities to cycle (whether by not having access to a roadworthy bike or not knowing a safe route to ride it), and physical barriers to cycling.

In year one of the programme, Cycle Stoke concentrated on expanding the cycle route network, building four more greenways as well as the Whitfield greenway cycle path, which provides a valuable link between the National Cycle Network Route 5 and the community of Little Chell. A safe route to Packmoor Primary School has also been completed, and funds have contributed towards an enhanced Safer Routes to School cluster bid which will provide off-road links between Packmoor Primary School, James Brindley High School and Primary Schools in North Stoke.

Other infrastructure projects have included providing cycle shelters for nine schools, creating 180 additional cycle parking spaces. Four more schools received shelters early in 2010 bringing the total to 270 spaces. 2009 saw another exciting development for young cyclists at Burnwood Community School, a ‘cycling flagship school’, with the installation of a BMX track.

To help raise the profile of cycling in the area, the Cycle Stoke team launched an initiative to encourage key figures in the community to be seen carrying out their duties on two wheels. Police Officers, Area Implementation Teams and Community Sports Network Officers were provided with bikes for this purpose. The initiative has been a success - giving Police Officers higher visibility and enabling them to cover far greater and out-of-reach areas such as canal towpaths. The bikes are used on a daily basis and are now regarded as an indispensible commodity and this initiative will be rolled out to other neighbourhood policing units.

Through a bike loan system, the Community Sports Network has helped the long-term unemployed who can’t afford bikes to find a cheap and effective way of commuting to work or enjoying leisure cycling. Another community project is the Blurton Dad’s Group, a voluntary group of dads who provide cycle training and activities in the local community. The group has around 30 cycles and these are loaned to the Cycle Stoke team for events.

Older people are benefiting too, with a partnership project set up in April 2009 by Cycle Stoke and Age Concern that encourages residents at two retirement villages (Bradeley Village and Berryhill Village) to take up cycling as part of a healthy lifestyle. High quality cycle parking has been provided, along with bikes, safety equipment and cycle training. Age Concern staff promote and encourage cycling by organising bike rides, events and activities. As a result of the project over 20 residents are cycling on a weekly basis, including people who haven’t ridden for 20 or 30 years.

The team is working to develop a Staffordshire University Travel Plan for staff and students, with a strong focus on cycling. This partnership will include publicising cycle routes throughout the year using University networks and a promotional campaign during Freshers’ Week 2010. Cycle Stoke also plans to introduce cycle maintenance training and buddy rides for staff and students in 2010.

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