Question 1 - Responses
Recent census data shows that over 20% of households in Stevenage do not have a car or van. In some areas closest to the Town Centre this percentage is considerably higher. What would you do to ensure that cycling is a feasible choice for everyday journeys in Stevenage?
Conservative Party
Hertfordshire County Council has already worked with Stevenage Borough Council to ensure that they have a Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan in place, which sets out what improvements are desirable.
Also, work is being done through Active Travel funding from the Government to improve cycling connectivity.
Green Party
Whilst one of Stevenage's strengths is its cycling network, as cyclists ourselves, we are keenly aware of some of the inadequacies and barriers to people changing their mode of transport to a bicycle. The council needs to consult with people who are not cycling currently to find out what changes would be needed to get more of them to cycle rather than use their car.
One of the greatest barriers to cycling is because of feeling safe, even with our cycleway network in Stevenage there are areas where a cyclist must cycle on the road to get to their destination. One responsibility therefore lies with other road users, we must all be considerate of each other and take on board the new Hierarchy of Responsibility in the Highway Code. We need to Share with Care. We would advocate for Stevenage Borough Council to promote the concept of Share with Care to all. We generally have one view of anti-social behaviour, being inconsiderate to other road users is another aspect of anti-social behaviour.
Another key barrier is the security of the bicycle when it is not being used. We need secure cycle parking at home, where we work (which may be the same place!), at train stations and bus stops, at schools, at hospitals and health centres, where we shop and where we go for leisure. We would liaise with supermarkets and other destinations to increase their cycling parking provision and ensure that it is more visible and accessible for people to use. As Green Councillors we would facilitate different kinds of cycle parking, all of it easy for the user to use. In Stevenage there is a need for more standalone Sheffield stands which are the easiest to use form of cycle parking, but there is also a need for covered parking and fully secure parking. It would be useful if there was parking where not only our bicycle was secure but also any shopping or equipment that is attached to the bike is also secure, this might be individual cycle lockers or a staffed cycle park.
We have many miles of cycleway in Stevenage, but it is not well looked after. There should be an ongoing investment in the cleaning and clearance of the cycleways so that people who wish to cycle have the confidence that their route will be clear. During last season’s icy and snowy weather, cycle paths were not gritted and snow not cleared. Cyclists who lack the confidence to share highways with motorists could easily be deterred from using their bikes and jump into their cars instead.
We need to improve the road markings in line with the changes to the Highway Code, especially where cycle-paths intersect with roads. This is especially important where a cyclist may choose to avoid a subway and use the road crossing due to the increase in gradient caused by the subway.
Stevenage Borough Council produced a Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) in 2019. As Green Party councillors, we would work with SBC to ensure the recommendations of the plan are fully accepted, an implementation plan with timeline agreed and action taken to secure funding.
Labour Party
Promote our unique cycling infrastructure of cycleways, to encourage active travel and health and wellbeing. This is a key part of our Climate Change Strategy for Stevenage. It also includes working on signage and markings, for which we welcome any input from Cycling Stevenage
Encourage and challenge the Conservative County Council to ensure our cycleway system is maintained properly, that pot holes and cracks are properly repaired and that broken glass is cleared up promptly
Listen to the difficulties faced by cyclists in navigating problematic areas, such as around the town centre. We already do this via site visits and cycle tours with you, as well as through the ATTLEE Reference group set up by Simon Speller
Ensure that the Connectivity Area Action Plan being prepared in the Lytton Way area picks up all the comments made for those who cycle, including access to cycling parking facilities in any new development
Liberal Democrats
We support the Borough Council's strategy of installing dedicated cycle hangars where demand is shown.
With Stevenage's dedicated cycleway network, the maintenance of which is the responsibility of Hertfordshire County Council whereas the cleaning is down to Stevenage Borough Council, we will work to ensure that both authorities fulfil their legal obligations and that surfaces are properly maintained and regularly cleaned of glass and other detritus.
Independent (Bedwell)
As I understand it in Stevenage, cycle tracks and their maintenance is the responsibility of the Hertfordshire County Council, and their cleaning is the responsibly of the Stevenage Borough Council. The long term strategy would be for Stevenage to become a unitary authority and to have responsibility for everything.
In the meantime SBC need to have a joined-up policy for regular sweeping of the cycle tracks. It is not their fault that bottles are constantly broken across the cycle tracks, but is their responsibility to keep the cycle ways suitable for use. Every day they collect rubbish and clean the paving slabs in the Town Centre. Perhaps they could do this weekly, and spend some of the savings on the cycle tracks. I would suggest a concerted sweep at least weekly, and a help line when there is risk of severe harm to cyclists and pedestrians, for immediate action. I would encourage supermarkets to take better care of their shopping trollies and educate them about the dangers posed by the trollies being left across the cycle tracks. Additionally I would encourage a far reaching education scheme to include schools and community groups to understand the dangers of any activity intended to cause harm to cyclists. As part of this education scheme I would remind everyone that foot paths are for walking on, and cycle tracks are for cycling on. For this issue an increase in meaningful signage might help. I am aware of the difficulties of enforcing this issue as it is a civil matter the responsibility for which is the SBC. However they do have a network of Area Wardens who should be charged with this responsibility. Also SBC could stop sending their little orange trucks up and down the cycle tracks at frightening speed. The one role where the police could be more active is in confiscating the illegal electric scooters.
Cycle storage at the railway station is very limited, and not easy to reach. I should seek to improve the number of cycle spaces and ensure they are under cover. Also to provide lockers for those who prefer to leave their helmets and protective clothing, rather than carry them on a train journey. There seems to be plenty of money for a multi-storey carpark -what about sufficient parking for cycles.
In the town centre cycle racks are in curious places, sometimes in the middle of the town. Such a location means that many cyclists will cycle through the town to reach them. I would support a better planned approach to cycle racks in the town centre which would include being able to leave them under cover. I questioned SBC about this issue and their suggestion was that I park in the indoor market. There are two spaces, the market is only open on four days, and it isn’t always the most convenient location. If I cycle to the Roaring Meg there are covered cycle racks.
I would encourage the more efficient use and location of cameras by SBC I have had two bicycles stolen. In some instances the cameras are meant simply a deterrent without any recording mechanism. Where this is a recording facility it is SBC’s responsibility to access details of any crime. This they are reluctant to do, leaving the police without any evidence.
I addition to all of these suggestions is the need to improve the cycling routes as indicated on your website. I use the Tesco carpark route from my house to the Doctors Surgery, the Lister Hospital and to the bowls club in King George Playing Fields. I believe that the only way to get SBC to take any notice is to start a local campaign which could spread to www.change.org. Local campaigns can work. Signatures totalling 3,200 were obtained regarding the route of the SB6 which caused Arriva to have a meeting and to improve the service.
Reform UK
The response received was a general statement addressing all 3 questions and can be viewed here.
TUSC
The response received was a general statement addressing all 3 questions and can be viewed here.