Stephen Williams' views on cycling
Since 1997 the time spent walking and cycling under Labour has decreased by 8% and the Government has not given adequate attention to supporting and promoting walking and cycling. Likewise, walking and cycling declined significantly when the Conservatives were last in Government. They have no current proposals or policies in these areas.
It is little wonder that people have been giving up walking and cycling. Congestion is rife in many cities and Labour have broken promise after promise they made to cyclists, and done little to improve conditions for those who actually do choose to cycle. In fact, congestion continues to grow as road traffic in Britain has gone up 14% since 1997 and continues to rise each year.
My Liberal Democrat colleagues and I believe that cycling is a healthy, environmentally friendly, inexpensive mode of transport. More needs to be done to provide better facilities and support for existing cyclists, and provide the conditions to encourage many others to get back on their bikes. We will create the conditions to support cycling and walking in our villages, towns and cities. If elected, my Party would support cycling by:
1. Including the promotion of safer cycling in all local transport plans;
2. Promoting "Liveable Cities" with requirements on higher density urban areas with local centres and decentralised services like schools and hospitals reducing the need to travel and ensuring upgraded public transport, and safe cycling routes in new development;
3. New office blocks and other places of employment, to have proper facilities for cycling (including secure cycle parking and proper changing facilities)
4. Requiring train and coach operators to accommodate bicycles on all new vehicles, and improve cycle storage and parking at stations and bus stops.
5. Supporting modern bicycle rental programmes such as the 'Cyclocity' scheme running successfully in Paris & Lyon and for many years in Germany.
6. Rolling out successful pilot schemes like Sustrans' TravelSmart which has achieved a 10 per cent reduction in car use simply by providing individualised travel advice on walking, cycling and bus alternatives, and increase travel awareness through advertising and other promotional activities, which are often the most cost effective way at achieving modal shift away from car journeys
7. Schemes to limit cars in town centres, including the school run by encouraging walking and cycling to school
8. Tackling problems linked to the school run by looking to establish a "green reward point scheme" for parents and schools where children walk, cycle or take the bus, and giving greater powers on local authorities to establish restrictions on parking around schools
I have previously backed proposals by 'Brake', a road safety organisation, to reduce speed limits in urban areas from 30mph to 20mph, as part of the 'Watch Out There's A Kid About' campaign. Statistics show that a child hit by a car at 40mph has 85% chance of being killed, whilst at 20mph, the child instead has a 90% chance of survival. As well as children, reduced speed limits would benefit cyclists. One of the most common reasons that people give for not cycling is that they feel that the roads are not safe enough. Reducing the speed limit will help to raise their confidence in the safety of roads. Not only would this help reduce congestion, but it is also more environmentally friendly. I have long supported 20mph zones in residential streets in Bristol. I am pleased the City Council is arranging a pilot scheme in Bedminster and Windmill Hill.
We want a bigger and better local public transport, including local rail, trams, walking and cycling, that is brought up to continental European standards. In Bristol, I hope the Cycling City award will lead to many more people taking up cycling; I was pleased to open the new cycle path from St Werburghs to Muller Road last summer.
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