A total of 358 cycle movements were recorded, compared to 300 the previous year
In late June / early July, Cycle Winchester undertook its annual cycle count. This is our fifth annual survey, using a consistent approach, to estimate the number of cycle movements in a morning rush hour at 10 popular commuter locations across the city.
Although a small survey, the counts give us a useful indication of progress in ‘getting more people cycling, more often’, as well as observational insights into road layouts that cause difficulties for people cycling. We often see unconventional tactics; cyclists dismounting or using pavements, where they judge cycling in the road to be too dangerous.
Surprisingly, our local transport authority doesn’t seem to have this kind of data, so our survey is probably the best guide to cycling habits in the city.
The full report, including detailed counts and commentary on each location, can be downloaded here. It makes interesting reading!
The headline news is that we recorded a total of 358 movements this year, compared to 300 the previous year. Previously the total count had remained stubbornly in the range 300-314. An increase in cycle movements of 19% is something to celebrate, although the report cautions that a single survey can be skewed by particular circumstances on the day.
What might account for any increase in cycling?
- Cycle Winchester would like to take a small share of credit, believing the Mass Ride plays a part in encouraging people to get on their bike and feel they are not alone on the streets.
- all the enthusiastic people running bike buses are helping create a buzz around cycling in their local communities.
- although immensely frustrated by the lack of progress in making our streets safer and more appealing to cyclists we want to acknowledge the positive changes that the councils have brought about in recent times: advanced stop lights on City Road; the Worthy Road cycle crossing; the upgraded crossing of Friarsgate; and the traffic order to allow cycling on Middle Brook Street. These are helpful rather than transformative, but they do send a positive message to cyclists that they are ‘seen’ and give hope that further change is on the way!
Beyond this there is a feeling – based on anecdotal evidence – that more young families and teenagers are simply deciding for whatever reason – economic, environmental, lifestyle – to get about by bike. This has been particular evident over the summer holidays, after our cycle count was completed.
Behind each number in our data is an individual cyclist and their experience on the road.
From observing on the ground our guess would be that for many of them their travel past the recording point wasn’t the most pleasant of experiences, not one they would enthuse about to a friend or family member contemplating riding a bike. To borrow a sentiment from a previous report, many cyclists choose to ride in spite of everything that militates against it being a pleasant, safe, easy and obvious choice.
Cycle Winchester’s overall conclusion.
There are more cyclists on our streets this year than at any time in the last five years and signs that this growth could well continue.
Councils need to act now to make our streets safer – through more cycling infrastructure, less traffic and reduced speed limits – in order to maximise the potential uptake of cycling and ensure that as new (and younger) riders come onto the roads their experience is a positive one which ensures they keep cycling and which encourages others to follow suit.