Common Statement in support of the LCN+ Partnership Bid for 2005/06

Background

1. The London Cycling Action Plan (LCAP) published in 2004 provides a comprehensive and interlinked set of actions that will deliver significant improvements in London's cycling environment encourage more Londoners to switch to using the bicycle and thus help to realise the many wider benefits that increased levels of cycling will bring.

2. Objective 1 in LCAP is to complete the delivery of the LCN+. This is a 900 km network of high demand routes where cycle user needs will be met by providing conditions that make cycling easy safe and comfortable.

Commitment to LCN+ Project

3. Development and delivery of the LCN+ is through a partnership process. This Council is a partner in the Borough Spending Plan bid for LCN+ which is being submitted by the London Borough of Camden.

Full details of the bid are contained in the London Borough of Camden submission. Works carried out through the partnership bid will be complementary and additional to other works relating to cycling contained in this councils' submission and other BSP schemes that impact on the cycling environment and public attitudes towards cycling.

4. This bid is London-wide. It will plan design improve monitor and maintain 900 km of cycle routes by 2010.

5. Strategies for providing a consistent high quality for cycle users along LCN+ links will be developed through a flexible local consultation and feasibility process. This process has been piloted and a generic brief adopted for use by this council and TfL area teams. This enables the views of local stakeholders to be included at the outset to influence the development of options and decisions as to measures to be progressed.

6. The draft London Cycling Design Standards are currently being consulted on. This document includes a range of treatment and design options so that local needs and streetscape requirements can be accommodated.

7. The www.londoncyclenetwork.org.uk website is a tool for planners and the general public. Features include the LCN+ map a cycle route journey planner and a section for planners where a range of supporting information can be found.

8. LCN+ is committed to achieving the following objectives:

* Make a significant contribution to raising Londons' status as an exemplary sustainable world city where people of all ages and abilities have the incentive confidence and facilities to cycle whenever it suits them.

* Promote cycling in London and encourage more people to cycle.

* Improve conditions for cycling along 900 km of route in the GLA area bringing conditions up to a standard where they are fast safe comfortable convenient attractive and easy to access.

* Offer a socially inclusive environment of a consistent quality that respects local differences and reduces transport inequalities.

* Routes be developed programmed implemented and maintained within a consistent London-wide framework.

* Give cycle users increased priority and improved safety at junctions and other locations of potential conflict with other road users

* Improve local access to LCN+ routes so as to contribute to attracting increased cycle flows : 100 - 200% with consequent benefits for the local economy as well as individual physical and mental health.

* Provide a strategic framework for the development of more local networks of cycling access and improvement schemes set exemplar standards for the design management co-ordination and promotion of quality cycling environments and link different authorities.

* Provide opportunities for people to cycle in confidence in parts of London that are not familiar to them.

* Contribute to overall road safety as well as to the achievement of the 40% reduction target in the number of cyclist fatalities or seriously injured in road accidents.

* Improve overall network capacity to result in journey time savings.

* Minimise and mitigate the risks and nuisance that cycle users can present to pedestrians.

* Increase the value of London's highway and transport infrastructure.

* Provide cycle users with a consistency of treatment along similar sections of a link.

9. This council will be completing and promoting the LCN+ network and where the borough has responsibility for maintaining these routes the borough will continue its maintenance duties following the completion of any works.

Co-ordination with other Authorities

10. Responsibility for the implementation of the LCN+ rests jointly with Transport for London and the London Local Authorities as the network is to be provided both on the Transport for London Road Network (TLRN) borough roads and borough open spaces. Transport for London is the main provider of funds and resources. The network will be completed through co-ordination with a range of other agencies responsible for transport infrastructure.

11. Voluntary cycling organisations in particular the London Cycling Campaign (LCC) Cyclists Touring Club (CTC) and Sustrans are active contributors to the development of the network.

Monitoring

12. The LCN+ network is expected to make a substantial contribution to improving the cycling environment increasing levels of use and achieving casualty reduction targets. Performance indicators are under development by TfL in relation to the cycling environment trends in levels of use and casualties including casualty locations.

Research into the impact of selected LCN+ schemes has been undertaken by TfL. A further programme is being developed to enable impact assessment of future schemes.