THE need for CYCLING IN DIDCOT
There are plans for around 8000 new homes to be built in Didcot over the next 10 to 15 years. In the 2011 census there was approx. 1.5 cars per household in South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse districts (potentially around 12,000 extra vehicles on Didcot's roads). It is clear that there will be real challenges for transport in Didcot and the Science Vale in the very near future (some would argue the challenges are here now).
The need for alternative transport methods, other than driving are known and recognised. Cycling needs to be a serious part of the Didcot transport mix. For this to happen, a well-planned town cycle network needs to be realised. The network needs to be connected and convenient as well as safe. This is all achievable but needs support and input from Didcot Cyclists.
The need for alternative transport methods, other than driving are known and recognised. Cycling needs to be a serious part of the Didcot transport mix. For this to happen, a well-planned town cycle network needs to be realised. The network needs to be connected and convenient as well as safe. This is all achievable but needs support and input from Didcot Cyclists.
The challenges for cycling in didcot
Some parts of Didcot have reasonable provision for cyclists (e.g. Ladygrove). Other areas have very little or no provision (e.g. Fleet Meadow, South Didcot) but have potential for future routes.
There some cycle paths that work well, usually running parallel to the railway e.g. Hitchcock Way, the A4130 path from Didcot to Milton Interchange.
There are also some poor examples of cycle paths e.g. the new path along Wantage Road at Great Western Park and disconnected cycle paths e.g. from Tesco to Marsh Lane Bridge.
There are some key blocking points which stop people considering cycling as a mode of transport e.g. Cow Lane tunnel, Power Station roundabout and Foxhall / Basil Hill roundabout.
Some of the problems with getting good cycle infrastructure are:
- Lack of an overall plan for cycling in Didcot. We now know the extent of developments and where people will need to get to and from, so generating a plan should be no problem.
- Developers only interested in their own area. Developers are providing cycling infrastructure in their developments i.e. Great Western Park, but provide no connections to other parts of the town. This may be because of a lack of cycling plan, or planning authorities not being pro-active enough.
- The County Council is restricted by budgets. Transport infrastructure funding has to come from a bidding proccess to central Government or developer money. The County Council is the transport authority for Didcot. A cycling strategy is due as part of the Local Transport Plan, but no details are available yet. The County Council stands a better chance of securing funding, if it has the support from local cyclists.
- Cycling infrastructure requires commitment from many organisations. Although the County Council is the transport authority, a network of cycle routes will need to get through privately owned land, as well as land owned by district, town and parish councils. This is further complicated as an expanded Didcot straddles two district councils and several parish councils.
- Lack of political will to make big decisions on transport. Many people think that the reason for cycle routes is to get cyclists off the road and not to provide a proper alternative transport network. Painting a few white lines is not enough. It will take money and some controversial decisions to get a good network together. Some decisions need to be made to tip the balance of transport choice, away from motor vehicles towards cycling and walking.
a new hope
Attitudes towards cycling are changing and many towns and cities in the U.K. and around the world are seeing the positive benefits of having a good cycling culture.
- Good cycle infrastructure is a big asset to an area, making it attractive to live in. Increasingly companies are factoring this in when deciding about locations. Employers (and schools) are realising that getting employees (and students) to cycle to work, means that they arrive on time and are healthier and happier than their car driving colleagues.
- Recent changes in legislation have made it easier to provide good cycle infrastructure e.g. one way streets can be designated to have contraflow for cyclists, zebra crossings can be modified to allow cyclists to cross them, without having to dismount. New designs for 'Dutch style' cycle friendly roundabouts have been trialled and approved for use. The use of 'Cyclists Dismount' signs have been disbanded.
- Didcot Parkway's new station forecourt has a lot more cycle parking than the previous cycle shed and by 09:30 on a weekday it is full. This shows that if good infrastructure is built, people will use it.