Manchester cycling enthusiasts are greeting plans for further investment across the region – but insist the money must be spent wisely.
Transport for Greater Manchester has made a bid to secure £20million from the government’s Cycle City Ambition Grant (CCAG) in a long-term plan to improve cycling routes and facilities.
Viv Slack, vice president of Manchester Wheelers’ Club, was pleased at the announcement but feels the funding must be used well to make a difference.
“It is comforting to know there is a long-term strategy in place that includes looking at segregated routes and education as well as facilities,” she said.
“There is some cynicism that funding will be used on cycle hubs and signage rather than addressing the really important but complicated issues like dedicated cycle routes and changing driver attitudes.
“The big changes are the ones that will really make it safer to ride, and enable more people to choose a bike over a car without risking their lives.
“I really hope they get the funding, and most of all I hope they use that funding wisely.”
Should the funding be awarded, it could prompt up to £200million worth of further investment under Velocity 2025 – an ambitious 12-year cycling strategy.
Under the plans, segregated cycle routes called spokes with 20mph speed limits would be built across Greater Manchester to schools, employment centres and leisure facilities.
‘Cycle and ride’ facilities would also developed at Metrolink and railway stations across Manchester, including Didsbury, Irlam and Prestwich, to encourage residents in the outskirts to cycle more.
Ms Slack is currently looking at our European neighbours’ models for inspiration.
“In cities like Copenhagen where cyclists and pedestrians have been put at the real heart of city planning, the results are impressive,” she said.
“We would love to see Manchester move towards that model.
“If the council can take advice from those that know most about riding on the roads and be willing to be brave and innovative with the solutions.”
But the announcement has provoked criticism from some members of the club, who have reservations about the proposed investment.
Si Bridge said on the club’s forum: “My issue with these cycle lanes is the ‘build and forget’ nature of them.
“They don’t tend to get the maintenance that the main roads get and do not self-clean like the roads as well so over time get filled up with rubbish.
“It’s all well and good building them but they need to be maintained or else they will not be used.”
Fellow user SteRit agreed that Manchester has a solid grounding for changes to be made, but that disruptions on the roads could cause havoc.
“The problem with Manchester is that the car, bike, bus and tram are all competing for space on the same roads in the same directions,” he said.
“For example, to resurface Wilmslow Road would cause disruption to buses for many months.
“The real advantage that Manchester has over other areas for developing cycling is that the established canal network connects most of the main places in the region and a decent cycle network could be built alongside.”
For more information about Manchester Wheelers’ Club visit http://www.manchesterwheelers.co.uk/index.htm
Picture courtesy of Yurri, with thanks.
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