- News
- Reviews
- Bikes
- Accessories
- Accessories - misc
- Computer mounts
- Bags
- Bar ends
- Bike bags & cases
- Bottle cages
- Bottles
- Cameras
- Car racks
- Child seats
- Computers
- Glasses
- GPS units
- Helmets
- Lights - front
- Lights - rear
- Lights - sets
- Locks
- Mirrors
- Mudguards
- Racks
- Pumps & CO2 inflators
- Puncture kits
- Reflectives
- Smart watches
- Stands and racks
- Trailers
- Clothing
- Components
- Bar tape & grips
- Bottom brackets
- Brake & gear cables
- Brake & STI levers
- Brake pads & spares
- Brakes
- Cassettes & freewheels
- Chains
- Chainsets & chainrings
- Derailleurs - front
- Derailleurs - rear
- Forks
- Gear levers & shifters
- Groupsets
- Handlebars & extensions
- Headsets
- Hubs
- Inner tubes
- Pedals
- Quick releases & skewers
- Saddles
- Seatposts
- Stems
- Wheels
- Tyres
- Health, fitness and nutrition
- Tools and workshop
- Miscellaneous
- Buyers Guides
- Features
- Forum
- Recommends
- Podcast
Better Cycle infrastructure in Bristol (CC licenced by tejvanphotos:Flickr)Bristol councillor says £35m set aside for cycling would be better spent on rail
A Conservative councillor in Bristol has said that £35 million earmarked to be spent on cycling in the city would be better invested in improving local rail services instead.
The southwest city last week unveiled ambitious plans to get 20 per cent of commuter trips there undertaken by bicycle by 2020.
Bristol City Council will spend £7 million a year over the next five years, the annual equivalent of £16 per head of its population, to try and realise its vision.
But Councillor Claire Hiscott, parliamentary candidate for the Conservative Party in the Bristol West constituency at next year’s general election, has described the council’s cycling strategy as “too proscriptive” and “unrealistic,” reports the Bristol Post.
She said: “Personally, I am very enthusiastic about cycling and welcome more being done to promote it and the creation of segregated routes across the city, to enable all those who choose to get around in this way to feel safer.
“However, I think we have to face the reality that cycling will never suit a majority of commuters or provide a solution to Bristol’s traffic congestion, and I fear the wholesale implementation of this plan might even make matters worse.
“The whole tone and tenor of this draft document also reads rather too proscriptive.
“Sadly, I think the idea of spending £7 million per year on cycling is unrealistic – particularly should problems arise in securing future government grants or external funding.
“If the mayor has money to spare in his transport budget, then I would prefer this was put towards greater investment in urban rail – a far more practical means of mass transit than the bicycle,” she added.
The plans announced last week aim to improve cycling provision in the city, as well as implementing Bristol Cycling Campaign’s Cycling Manifesto, formally adopted as council policy.
They include implementing ‘quietway’ and segregated cycle lanes, and are aimed at providing an economic stimulus for the city.
Mayor of Bristol George Ferguson said: "Cycling is good for the economy. A healthy workforce, which arrives to work less stressed and on time, is better for productivity and good health.
“I am confident that this document will help Bristol attract more funding to the city for improvements as it gives us the benefit of a clearly defined framework."
The Bristol cycling plan remains open for consultation until 11 August 2014.
Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.
Latest Comments
- Rendel Harris 37 min 31 sec ago
That's a bit of a strange take on it! I rode along the Thames (mainly) from Reading to London on Monday and I did ask a couple of cyclists to slow...
- TwoHeadsTalking 4 hours 49 min ago
Don't think I mentioned education, Wiki article also has link to his father's page.
- Owd Big 'Ead 4 hours 57 min ago
Er.... No they don't. You're probably on the wrong site if you expect the rest of us to believe your delusions.
- Owd Big 'Ead 5 hours 13 min ago
If anyone expected Labour to act differently than the Tories on this legislation they should give their heads a good wobble....
- Owd Big 'Ead 5 hours 28 min ago
Hmm........
- Drinfinity 7 hours 23 min ago
These handsome beasties live in the field on my regular loop. On this winter trip they found bliss in my studded tyres, which were both scratchy...
- Matt Page 8 hours 14 min ago
A brilliant write up, and well done Dave!
- Road addict 9 hours 32 min ago
Many thanks, your comments are very much appreciated, will take your advice re. saddle and keep everything crossed.
- Burt 9 hours 42 min ago
Trek doing what Specialized did and going to one do it all model, though it'll still be called the Madone. Potential Project One customers have...
Add new comment
42 comments
The guided buses are still very much alive and well, I'm afraid. So far the BRT2 project alone has cost £13 million and all they've done is dig up a bit of the river bank. http://stopbrt2.org.uk/
Bristol's tram network has been dead for decades, although you can still see signs of what used to be, like the old power station at Finzel's Reach, now being converted into trendy flats.
Jacknorell, the Portishead line is definitiely reopening, but they're still trying to fund the cost of £55 million. For one station. That makes £35 million on a comprehensive cycle network for most of the city look like pretty good value to me.
Thought it was an old Courage Brewery, not a power station.
I'm pretty sure the big square building on the corner is the old generating station.
http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-379462-former-tramway-generat...
You can also see some of the tram tracks in Castle Park, near the fountain.
The Finzel's Reach development was only a success because the developer went to the council and said "You know all that section 106 money we said we'd spend on infrastructure around our shiny new development? Here's the thing, if we actually spend that then the development won't be profitable so we might as well throw in thr towel and not bother." Bristol CC promptly said, "Well, OK, then, don't bother paying for the additional infrastructure, that can just come out of the council's budget." and lo and behold, the development got finished. (Allegedly).
BRT2 wants to land grab the bridge by the Create Centre. Also known as "the only bridge to get you from the Pill Path onto the Chocolate Path", also known as "part of the grand Festival Way". Cycle paths are seen as an easy target - god forbid that any roads are sacrificed...
She's right. that £35 million will almost certainly stretch to a pre consultation about the possibility of a feasibility study into the potential for urban rail in an urban setting.
So more government by anecdote?
It'd be interesting to see the research and evidence from other countries and cities that she's based her comments on. Surely she's done her homework before speaking about such a major investment?
Could Road.cc (or anyone) follow up with her and share the research and evidence behind her comments?
Cycling is the only proven way to reduce congestion that I've found, I must have seen different analyses.
To make the Bristol rail network useful for commuters you'd need to spend a lot more than 35m. Currently there are large swathes of the city that are not served by the rail network in a way that is useful for commuting. Just in north bristol you'd need to open the Henbury loop line, which would be an incredible investment in itself.
Then we get the issue that commuting by rail is expensive, comparable to going by car, and also typically slow and unreliable. Plus the city centre station involves a non-insignificant walk (about a mile to BS1 on googlemaps) to actually get to the centre. I don't really see anyone choosing to go from driving to using the train without the entire system being replaced.
Throw in that you don't get the benefits of a healthier population that comes with cycling, and I really don't think it would be sensible to divert money that way. I'd like to see the trains here improved, but that should not involve taking away funding from the most sustainable (outside of walking) and beneficial means of transport.
You're right. I work in BS1 and regularly host visitors from outside the city arriving by train. They invariably get in a taxi.
f'ing Tories !!!!!!
yet another attempt to change some of the cycle routes into
tramways ... grrrrr
Out of interest, what is Urban Rail? I thought that Bris shelved the SuperTram system and the Guided Buses...
I am guessing it is traditional heavy rail...
So, to support cycling she's going to defund the projects? Councillor logic at its best.
Wonder if £35m even buys a complete train set nowadays?
Pages