Cycling strategy

Background

3 (i) Cycling growth 

  1. More than two million adults in the UK regularly ride a bike and the 2011 Census showed the number of people cycling to work had increased by 14%. Increasingly, people are choosing to cycle as a practical way to get to and from work, school and shops as well as a popular recreational activity. 
     
  2. Other European countries with a similar climate and landscape but better cycling routes show how widespread cycling could be: in Germany 19% of people cycle every day and in the Netherlands it is 43%. 
     
  3. The Tyneside Cycling and Walking Index1 showed that 36% of all residents cycle, with 16% of residents cycling at least once a week. In Summer 2021, 36% of all cycling trips consisted of people cycling to work, with 28% being defined as leisure. Cycling tourism on long-distance routes such as the Coast and Castles is also a valuable contributor to the region’s economy.  
     
  4. Cycling is growing in North Tyneside: cycling trips in the borough have increased by 61% since 2018, when the Cycling Strategy was adopted, measured by automatic counters on routes throughout the borough. 
     
  5. Physical activity can reduce the risk of major illnesses, such as heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes. It can also improve symptoms of some mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety. Currently in North Tyneside 65% of adults are estimated to meet the UK Chief Medical Officers’ recommendations for physical activity of 150 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity each week. The easiest way to get more of the population moving is to make activity part of everyday life, like cycling instead of using the car to get around. 

Getting more people cycling – the benefits 

We want to make everyday cycling an aspirational form of transport for all, regardless of age, ability or background. The benefits of getting more people of all ages and backgrounds involved in everyday cycling include: 

  • Convenience – cycling is a physical activity which people can easily fit into their daily routine; it gets you to your destination quickly and in a reliable time; and it is an affordable, easy and fun way to explore and experience the borough
  • Sustainable growth – Tackling isolation and improving social mobility helps people to access jobs and opportunities regardless of their background.
  • Improved health – Everyday cycling can help people remain healthier for longer. People who cycle to work lower their risk of cancer and heart disease by more than 40%[2].  Together with walking, cycling is the easiest way to build activity into daily life and is good for both physical and mental health [3].
  • A better environment – Cycling can contribute to a pleasant urban environment with reduced noise and pollution. Increasing cycling can play a vital part in the continuing improvement in local air quality, and, by replacing motorised journeys, help to reduce carbon emissions in line with the Authority’s vision to be carbon net-zero by 2030. 

3 (ii) Success so far

  1. Recognising the increasing levels of cycling in the borough and the wish among many more people to take part in cycling, the Authority has invested to deliver cycling improvements. We have: 
     
    1. encouraged more people to cycle, e.g. by delivering the Go Smarter programme of initiatives to support sustainable and active travel, such as Bikeability cycling training, which we deliver to around 2,500 school pupils per year 
       
    2. piloted Bikeability projects within local special educational needs schools, with the aim of encouraging children with a range of mobility issues and other disabilities to cycle 
       
    3. worked in partnership with local organisations to promote cycling; supporting them in the development of community-based cycling projects such as North East Homeless and the Phoenix Detached Youth Project 
       
    4. made the area around schools safer, by working with schools to introduce ‘School Streets’ schemes around five primary schools in the borough 
       
    5. promoted cycling through our Summer of Cycling programme which includes cycle training, community guided rides and family fun days 
       
    6. delivered new high quality cycle links on our Strategic Cycle Routes, including at A189 Salters Lane and A191 New York Bypass-Rake Lane. We have commenced implementation  of the North Shields Masterplan, creating space for cycling and walking on Howard Street 
       
    7. we have also secured funding to deliver local links which make it easier to cycle to four Metro stations in the borough, e.g. an improved route alongside Norham Road in North Shields, linking to Percy Main Metro station 
       
  2. Since the Cycling Strategy was adopted we have seen a 61% growth in cycling within the borough, and a 5% increase in cycling to schools. 

3 (iii) Strategic context for cycling 

  1. Cycling in the borough is considered as part of a broader strategic context, which is made up of: 
     
    1. Our North Tyneside Plan 2021 - 2025;
    2. the North Tyneside Local Plan 2017 - 2032;
    3. ‘Equally Well’, the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2021 - 2025;
    4. the North Tyneside Transport Strategy;
    5. the North Tyneside Travel Safety Strategy;
    6. Transport and Highways Supplementary Planning Document (SPD);
    7. the North Tyneside Highway Asset Management Plan (HAMP); and
    8. the North Tyneside Network Management Plan. 
       
  2. The North Tyneside Transport Strategy sets out aims to increase cycling, promote active forms of travel (which includes cycling, walking and wheeling) and give them greater priority in design. The Local Plan aims to ensure sustainable access throughout the borough and make walking and cycling an attractive and safe choice for all. The Our North Tyneside Plan confirms our aim to increase opportunities for safe walking and cycling, with a commitment to provide a segregated cycleway at the coast. The Cycling Strategy also has strong links to ‘Equally Well’, the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy, and forms part of our systematic approach to reducing health inequalities 
     
  3. Furthermore, the Cycling Strategy reflects the objectives of the regional North East Transport Plan developed by Transport North East, and its aims of supporting the decarbonisation of transport and encouraging active travel.