Agenda item

It was explained that the group had met for the first time on 9 January and at this meeting Gary Perrett of the Bridgwater Area Cycling Campaign had given a presentation on safe travel in and around Bridgwater which was then given to the LCN highlighting:

·         Bridgwater Area Cycling Campaign’s vision and drive

·         The infrastructure issues

§  The need for inner and outer routes around Bridgwater

§  The pinch points of Bath Road and Westonzoyland Road bridges

·         Bridgwater LCNs priorities:

§  Smarter Towns

§  Reducing congestion

§  Introducing Low Traffic Neighbourhoods

§  Creating 20 mph zones and pedestrianized areas

§  Opening up green spaces to active travel

§  Street design

§  Public Safety & Schools

§  Embed active travel into schools

§  Safe routes (traffic free?) across town

§  Street and path lighting

§  Paths regularly maintained

§  Local Businesses

§  Working with employers

§  Supporting local businesses and the High Street

§  Improving health and wellbeing

§  Leisure and tourism

§  Active Travel Hub

§  Community hubs for all (cyclists, pedestrians, wheelchair users etc.)

§  Bike hire, share scheme, servicing and sales

§  Secure undercover parking hub

§  Café and a restful location

§  Raising Awareness

§  Asking for people’s thoughts

§  At local events and markets

§  Running regular led and social rides

§  Creating good awareness communications

§  Bridgwater Transport Forum

 

Kerry Jones, of Transport Development for Somerset Council, gave an outline of the Mobility Hub plans for Taunton. She explained that mobility hubs were recognised places that connected different transport modes, supplemented and supplemented and enhanced facilities and information to attract and benefit the traveller. As well as being an active travel hub it could organised to facilitate easy access between different modes of transport e.g. cycles, scooters, car clubs as well as access to public transport.

 

In Taunton they were currently going through the design process for the repurposing of the old bus station on Tower Street, near Castle Street. They were hoping to develop it into a mobility hub, and also establishing it as more of a community centre where there will be access to bike stands, top-up water facilities, a café and all the components that might appear at an active travel hub, but with a bit more to it. There would also be access to Wi-Fi, signposting for information. If anyone was interested in looking at more information she recommended www.como.org.uk as CoMoUK, were one of the leaders in mobility hubs.

 

The LCN then split into groups to consider the following questions:

 

Each group then fed back one and all the following points were captured:

 

Key Priorities for active travel in Bridgwater:

Ø  Safe and secure routes

Ø  Joining up existing cycle routes – using off-road routes

Ø  Secure bike parking – CCTV

Ø  Improved cycle routes

Ø  More money!

Ø  Infrastructure of routes

Ø  Links to the Town and businesses

Ø  Pinch points

Ø  Safety

Ø  Street lighting

Ø  Routes could be used by mobility scooters/trikes

Ø  Pathways kept in good condition and maintained

Ø  Will routes be litter picked

Ø  Will people feel safe if routes not looked after and it looks a rough area?

Ø  Provision of bins

Ø  Elderly people have great difficulty in accessing transport – no longer able to drive

Ø  Public transport severely lacking. What there is, is infrequent and drivers are often unhelpful

Ø  Active travel improves mental and physical health; especially important as people get older

Ø  Minibuses could help

Ø  Volunteer drivers are important

Ø  Mobility from outlying villages is also important for young people (e.g school/college/ young working age)

Ø  Beat the street

Ø  Safety & security of bikes and their accessories

Ø  The pinch points of Bath Road and Westonzoyland Road

 

How we know this:

Ø  People tell us

Ø  Forums

Ø  Bridgwater Transport Forum

Ø  Active Travel Forum

Ø  Knowledge of area/experience

Ø  Perception – initial sight of location

 

What ideas/measures could be put in place to improve this:

Ø  Incentivise companies to issue green tokens/vouchers for green travel to work

Ø  Local businesses to provide sponsorship

Ø  Where you can’t change the infrastructure in the town centre change how roads are used – make fast ways into slow ways

Ø  Not accepting lights out in developments still run by developers

Ø  Awareness of safe/easy cycle routes – celebrate what we have

Ø  Sponsorship of routes

Ø  Being able to get a prosecution for bike thefts – if covered by CCTV. We need to see less theft. Street Pastors have radios

Ø  Active Travel Hub – see what worked/didn’t in Taunton

Ø  SASP work scheme

Ø  Changing attitudes and training

Ø  Safe storage of bikes in places that lead into safe walking routes

Ø  The Bowerings’ building at the Docks – ideal cycle/mobility hub