The Space for Cycling campaign has been expanded from where it started in London to cover the who county. The campaign asks Newcastle Councillors to support its principles, and find the funding to help implement changes that will improve cycling across the city.
Labour Councillors in Newcastle have not just shown their support in principle for this campaign – the Labour run Council is delivering the funds to make the improvements that will help create the right ‘space for cycling’.
In 2014/15 the Local Transport Plan funding allocated to cycling grew by 40% from £300k to £420k. This is the figure allocated solely to cycling – additional Local Transport Plan funding goes into other schemes that also benefit cyclists including junction improvements and maintenance.
In addition to this – the Council’s commitment to a Cycling Strategy and the creation of strategic cycle routes has seen us secure national funding of £5.7m to help kickstart the infrastructure improvements required to deliver the right ‘space for cycling’ and create a city fit for cycling.
Further, Newcastle City Council is one of the only councils across England to have reduced speed limits to 20mph in most residential streets making it safer for cyclists.
To support these infrastructure improvements your Labour run Council offers free cycle training to adults and supports similar campaigns under the ‘Schools Go Smarter’ banner at schools across the city.
Labour councillors are committed to transparency and welcome the involvement of all groups and interested individuals in the development of its plans. Newcastle is one of the only core cities to have a Cycling Forum that is open to any member of the public to get involved.
Newcastle has seen a more than 80% rise in regular cyclists to work in recent years so we can see the evidence that the measures we are putting in place are helping people to cycle. The more people we have cycling the less pollution and congestion we will have. The better the infrastructure for cyclists on our roads the more cyclists will use the road rather than the pavement. Improvements in cycling are improvements for everyone.
The council is currently working on plans that will see huge improvements for the people that live, work, and visit our city and these include very significant improvements for cyclists in line with the principles of this campaign.
You can find out more about what is currently going on and for links about how to get more involved in delivering these improvements at www.newcastle.gov.uk/parking-roads-and-transport/cycling