Cycling Strategy 

Introduction

The county faces a situation that demands a response

Growth in popularity and awareness of the benefits of cycling as a convenient, economic, healthy and environmentally friendly mode of transport, and not just as a recreational pursuit, justifies the need for further action to be taken by Cheshire East Council to develop and encourage it wherever possible.

The task will not be easy, but Cheshire East Council is one of the organisations well placed to promote cycling within Cheshire and able to access national funds.  To help, this strategy has been produced which sets out Cheshire East Council's approach to cycling policy, drawing together and developing the various policies and initiatives, some of which are already being pursued.  It has been prepared following the Council's endorsement of the Cheshire Sustainable Transport Strategy (July 1996), which sets out an approach for transport and travel ranging from encouraging more fuel efficient vehicles through to developing public transport networks.

The need for a Strategy

Cycling is today seen as a serious part of both national and local transport policy.  An increased perception of cycling as a real alternative mode of transport to the car and a growth in cycling as a leisure activity has increased the demand for cycling The message is quite clear that there is a need for more and better cycling facilities and that the time is now right to try and secure these facilities in East Cheshire.

This Strategy arises from the need to:

• accelerate the development of cycling in the county while ensuring a structured and co-ordinated approach.
• set out priorities and actions for the development of cycling facilities to guide the Highways and Transportation Local Joint Committee in the development of cycling Action Plans.
• provide a link into other Council programmes, such as Local Agenda 21, Cheshire's Sustainable Transport Strategy, TravelWise and the Cheshire Sustainable Tourism Strategy, which recognise cycling as making an important contribution to the overall aims.