CPRE Somerset Branch is a registered charity no. 1100860. A company limited by guarantee reg. No. 04755482
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Safe Cycle Routes
Branch Position Statement
Position
Somerset CPRE wants to encourage and support the use of the bicycle as a sport and as a means of transport. This is in harmony with the CPRE policy in general and the policies expressed and published by branch CPREs throughout the country.
Cycling is important because it reduces dependence on the car and public transport and hence reduces pollution, it is an excellent form of exercise and enables people to explore and enjoy the countryside. Sustrans, (the leading UK charity dedicated to achieving a cost-effective transition to sustainable travelling) has made a good start in establishing a limited network of cycleways linking some of the major towns of Somerset. Local Authorities also play a key role in the establishment and maintenance of cycleways. For details of cycle routes click here to visit Sustrans website.
Problems:
The main problem in Somerset, as in other counties, is that there are not enough safe roads or dedicated tracks for the cyclists. Throughout the county it is almost impossible for children to get to school by bicycle.
Aspirations:
Every community should be linked to their neighbouring town by dedicated cycleways. Every child in every hamlet should be able safely to cycle to school. Proposals for some of the possibilities can be observed in the document from Transport 2000, Rural Transport Futures summary, which includes a description of some implemented solutions in Friesland (North Holland).
Solutions:
- The safety of the cyclists can be improved by establishing cycle tracks along or close to the main A roads linking villages to town centres, providing commuting workers and pupils with the choice of cycling.
- CPRE Somerset should be actively supporting the development of cycleways and monitoring the maintenance of byways and bridleways.
- CPRE asserts that any new routes created – or construction/maintenance work carried out – should be done sensitively and with respect to local character
- It is also important to consider the development of quiet lanes as advocated through Transport 2000 and CPRE. This means the introduction of road calming measures and making the country lanes safer for pedestrians and cyclists giving them priority over cars.
Somerset has some important cycleways such as the Colliers Way and the Stop Line Way. Sections of the former are not yet completed.
Partnership development:
CPRE must support charities such as Sustrans and CTC (the UK’s National Cyclists’ Organisation that has been protecting and promoting the rights of cyclists since 1878) working locally for the development of safe cycling networks and for education on safe cycling at schools.
Possible campaigns:
- To identify unsafe roads which are important for transport and to get the councils to agree to improve cycle tracks alongside. eg. Wells to Glastonbury road.
- To support efforts to obtain planning permission for the development of the Strawberry Line and complete Colliers Way
- To encourage the councils to maintain byways and bridleways in order to make them suitable for the cyclist
- To look into the possibility of identifying and implementing quiet lanes
- To encourage the reuse of disused railway tracks
