Agenda item

Report of the Corporate Director, Community.

The Panel received a report of the Corporate Director, Community which set out the current position with regard to cycling in the borough and recommended a way forward for delivering the aspirations of the Cycle Strategy.

Following a brief overview of the report, Panel Members made the following comments:

·                     the strategy was excellent.  The relevant contact at the Mayor of London’s office should be approached regarding the Strategy and Action Plan;

·                     the limited extent of the cycling infrastructure in Harrow prevented more people from cycling.  It was important to continue to lobby Transport for London and the Mayor of London for increased funding to improve and expand the cycling infrastructure, in Harrow and in London generally.  It would be useful to carry out a survey of residents to gauge the level of unmet needs, for example, how many people owned bicycles but did not use them or would like to cycle but did not do so due to safety and other concerns;

·                     any statistics and information from such a survey would support Harrow’s case when lobbying TfL and the Mayor of London. The Communications Team should be approached regarding the possibility of such a survey being included in the next issue of Harrow People;

·                     the Strategy demonstrated that Harrow had ambitions to become more cycle-friendly.  However, the lack of progress in Harrow was in sharp contrast to excellent schemes in other parts of London, for example, the Embankment super-highway and the mini-Hollands initiative.  Waltham Forest had been transformed by the mini-Hollands scheme and Harrow could contact them to take advantage of their expertise and experience. The London Cycling Design Standards should be adopted in Harrow;

·                     the Portfolio Holder for Environment, Crime and Community Safety should be urged to make representations to TfL and the Mayor of London for additional funding;

·                     it was important to educate pedestrians as well as drivers to respect cycle lanes and cyclists

·                     some cycle lane markings on roads that had been recently dug up by statutory providers were in need of repainting

Officers responded to Members questions and comments as follows:

·                     the Council ran sustained and targeted promotion campaigns regarding cycling;

·                     it was incumbent on Statutory Providers to re-instate any areas of road and pavement that they dug up and any breaches should be reported and would be investigated by the Network Policy Team.

Resolved to RECOMMEND:  (to the Portfolio Holder for Environment, Crime and Community Safety)

That

(1)          the work programmes and initiatives to deliver the cycling strategy to date using TfL grant funding be noted;

(2)          the Borough Cycle Action Plan be reviewed and updated to set out specific, realistic and deliverable short, medium and long term goals based on anticipated funding levels;

(3)          the Harrow cycle skills network audit be noted and the findings used to prioritise the infrastructure improvements in the Borough Cycle Action Plan;

(4)          the Traffic and Road Safety Advisory Panel reviews progress with the Borough Cycle Action Plan annually;

(5)          the 2017/18 LIP programme increases the proportion of investment for cycling within the total funding to be confirmed by TfL;

(6)          a positive case be made to the London Mayor for additional investment in cycling for Harrow to deliver it’s cycle strategy;

(7)          all opportunities to secure developer contributions and Community Infrastructure Levy funding for cycle infrastructure improvements are pursued;

(8)          the London ‘Safer Lorries Safer Cycling’ scheme be supported.

Reason for Decision:  To improve cycle infrastructure in the borough and make Harrow a more cycle friendly borough and increase the uptake of cycling as a sustainable mode of transport for all users.