Agenda item

To consider the following motion, submitted by Dr O’Kelly, which was referred to the Cabinet Member for Highway and Infrastructure at the meeting of the County Council on 20 July 2018.

‘This Council recognises the significant work being done by the Cabinet to promote the benefits of increasing cycle journeys, in terms of improving fitness, reducing congestion and the need to provide additional parking spaces, and improving air quality, as well as opening up the countryside for both residents and visitors.  Along with the undoubted benefits of making cycling easier, there are also a number of issues that need to be addressed for the benefit of all residents and visitors to West Sussex.  There are also new developments, such as electric bikes and increasing numbers of motorised scooters, which should, ideally, be segregated from pedestrians as far as possible in town centres.

The Council therefore calls on the Cabinet to hold a county-wide Cycling Summit to explore all the issues more fully, involving the whole range of stakeholders to address at least the following issues:

(1)      The health benefits of increasing cycling miles and how this can be achieved;

(2)      The role of cycling in addressing congestion and air quality;

(3)      Increasing cycle commuting and the role of employers in encouraging this;

(4)      Cycling Safety;

(5)      Cycle tourism - opportunities and threats, including a presumption against road closures for large cycle events and damage to popular off-road routes;

(6)      Cycling education, and involving schools and other educational establishments in promoting cycling;

(7)      Involving businesses, and encouraging them to promote cycling through their travel plans;

(8)      Maximising grant funding and exploring other ways of funding new high quality infrastructure;

(9)      Design standards and increasing cycling infrastructure and capacity; and

(10)    Recognising the different challenges of promoting cycling in urban and rural environments and working with district, borough, parish and neighbourhood councils, and the South Downs National Park Authority.’

and the report by the Cabinet Member for Highways and Infrastructure.

76.1   At the County Council meeting on 20 July 2018 the following motion had been moved by Dr O’Kelly, seconded by Ms Lord, and referred to the Cabinet Member for Highways and Infrastructure for consideration. A report by the Cabinet Member was included with the agenda (pages 39 and 40).

‘This Council recognises the significant work being done by the Cabinet to promote the benefits of increasing cycle journeys, in terms of improving fitness, reducing congestion and the need to provide additional parking spaces, and improving air quality, as well as opening up the countryside for both residents and visitors.  Along with the undoubted benefits of making cycling easier, there are also a number of issues that need to be addressed for the benefit of all residents and visitors to West Sussex.  There are also new developments, such as electric bikes and increasing numbers of motorised scooters, which should, ideally, be segregated from pedestrians as far as possible in town centres.

The Council therefore calls on the Cabinet to hold a county-wide Cycling Summit to explore all the issues more fully, involving the whole range of stakeholders to address at least the following issues:

(1)     The health benefits of increasing cycling miles and how this can be achieved;

(2)     The role of cycling in addressing congestion and air quality;

(3)     Increasing cycle commuting and the role of employers in encouraging this;

(4)     Cycling Safety;

(5)     Cycle tourism - opportunities and threats, including a presumption against road closures for large cycle events and damage to popular off-road routes;

(6)     Cycling education, and involving schools and other educational establishments in promoting cycling;

(7)     Involving businesses, and encouraging them to promote cycling through their travel plans;

(8)     Maximising grant funding and exploring other ways of funding new high quality infrastructure;

(9)     Design standards and increasing cycling infrastructure and capacity; and

(10)   Recognising the different challenges of promoting cycling in urban and rural environments and working with district, borough, parish and neighbourhood councils, and the South Downs National Park Authority.’

76.2   An amendment was moved by Mrs Russell and seconded by Mrs Urquhart.

‘This Council recognises the significant work being done by the Cabinet to promote the benefits of increasing cycle journeys, in terms of improving health and wellbeing fitness, reducing congestion and the need to provide additional parking spaces, and improving air quality, as well as opening up the countryside for both residents and visitors.  Along with the undoubted benefits of making cycling easier, there are also a number of issues that need to be addressed for the benefit of all residents and visitors to West Sussex.  There are also new developments, such as electric bikes and increasing numbers of motorised scooters, which should, ideally, be segregated from pedestrians as far as possible in town centres.

The Council therefore calls on the Cabinet Members to hold a county-wide Cycling Summit to explore all the issues more fully including at the 2019 Cycling Summit, involving the whole range of stakeholders to address at least the following issues:

(1)     The health and wellbeing benefits of increasing cycling miles and how this can be achieved;

(2)     The role of cycling in addressing congestion and air quality;

(3)     Increasing cycle commuting and the role of employers in encouraging this;

(4)     Cycling and Pedestrian Safety;

(5)     Cycle tourism - opportunities and threats, including a detailed consideration of proposed presumption against road closures for large cycle events and potential consequences for damage to popular off-road routes;

(6)     The continuation of cCycling education in schools through ‘Bikability’ courses, instructor advice and school travel plans, and involving schools and other educational establishments in promoting cycling;

(7)     Involving businesses, and encouraging them to promote cycling through their travel plans;

(8)     Maximising grant funding and exploring other ways of funding new high quality infrastructure;

(9)     The success of the newly-implemented Design standards and increasing cycling infrastructure and capacity; and

(10)   Recognising the different challenges of promoting cycling in urban and rural environments and working with district, borough, parish and neighbourhood councils, and the South Downs National Park Authority.’

76.3   The amendment was accepted.

76.4   The motion, as amended and set out below, was carried.

‘This Council recognises the significant work being done by the Cabinet to promote the benefits of increasing cycle journeys, in terms of improving health and wellbeing, reducing congestion and the need to provide additional parking spaces, and improving air quality, as well as opening up the countryside for both residents and visitors.  Along with the undoubted benefits of making cycling easier, there are also a number of issues that need to be addressed for the benefit of all residents and visitors to West Sussex.  There are also new developments, such as electric bikes and increasing numbers of motorised scooters, which should, ideally, be segregated from pedestrians as far as possible in town centres.

The Council therefore calls on the Cabinet Members to explore issues more fully including at the 2019 Cycling Summit, involving the whole range of stakeholders to address the following issues:

(1)     The health and wellbeing benefits of increasing cycling miles and how this can be achieved;

(2)     The role of cycling in addressing congestion and air quality;

(3)     Increasing cycle commuting and the role of employers in encouraging this;

(4)     Cycling and Pedestrian Safety;

(5)     Cycle tourism - opportunities and threats, including a detailed consideration of proposedroad closures for large cycle events and potential consequences forpopular off-road routes;

(6)     The continuation of cycling education in schools through ‘Bikability’ courses, instructor advice and school travel plans;

(7)     Involving businesses, and encouraging them to promote cycling through their travel plans;

(8)     Maximising grant funding and exploring other ways of funding new high quality infrastructure;

(9)     The success of the newly-implemented Design standards and increasing cycling infrastructure and capacity; and

(10)   Recognising the different challenges of promoting cycling in urban and rural environments and working with district, borough, parish and neighbourhood councils, and the South Downs National Park Authority.’