Agenda item

To give consideration to a report on the promotion of and public engagement with Active Travel in North Tyneside (to follow).

Consideration was given to a report and presentation on the Authority’s policies and measures currently in place to encourage active travel in the Borough.  It was explained that active travel was generally defined as travel which involved physical activity such as walking, wheeling and cycling.

The report set out the legislative framework in relation to active travel and explained that transport policy at a regional level had been set out in the North East Transport Plan, within that plan were a number of specific regional strategies such as the North East Active Travel Strategy and the North East Making the Right Choice Strategy designed to make walking and cycling an attractive and safe choice for all.

It was explained that the Authority’s approach to transport, and this included active travel, had been set out in the North Tyneside Transport Strategy and this fitted into the North Tyneside Local Plan, to ensure sustainable access, including making walking and cycling an attractive and safe choice for all.  It was also explained that active travel had been included as part of the North Tyneside Cycling Strategy and the North Tyneside Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan which had been approved by Cabinet in June 2023. 

Reference was also made to the intention to refresh the North Tyneside Travel Safety Plan.  It was explained that in November 20222 Cabinet had approved the Transport and Highways Supplementary Planning Document which set out in detail the procedures the Authority had adopted in relation to the transport impact of new developments which included active travel infrastructure and the means of promoting active travel for the users of the development.

The report provided details of the current infrastructure in place for active travel and the measures taken to deliver additional schemes including securing external funding to deliver a permanent, segregated, two way safe space along the coast.

In addition the Authority arranges training and behaviour change activity in schools to encourage active travel to and from school.  The Authority was also involved in a number of other events which promoted health and wellbeing as well as active travel.

It was explained that regular monitoring reports were presented to Cabinet to provide a summary on how the Authority had performed against the principles set out in the North Tyneside Transport Strategy, including active travel.  It was noted that levels of cycling had increased by around 48% since 2018 and the targets had been updated to reflect the Authority’s ambition for wider participation in everyday cycling.

Details of the actions taken to promote active travel were outlined.  These included news releases, information provided on the Authority’s website and through social media.  The authority also worked with Transport North East on the promotion schemes and initiatives on a regional level.

Reference was made to the barriers in place to participation in active travel.  It was noted that many residents currently did not cycle and might be persuaded to cycle if there were more cycle tracks build alongside roads that were physically separated from traffic and pedestrians.  Reference was also made to the information gathered from the annual residents survey that more residents would be willing to cycle to work or for short journeys in the next five years.

Members were then invited to consider:

·       What would encourage people to use active travel modes more often?

·       What could encourage people to start using active travel?

·       What additional promotion do we need to consider?

·       How will we know if the promotion has been successful?

It was suggested that there was a need for the provision of secure cycle storage at transport interchanges to encourage people to use active travel as part of an integrated transport provision. The provision of secure cycle storage outside public buildings, such as churches, shops and libraries.

It was suggested that there was a need to ensure that road and pavement surfaces were maintained to reduce accidents and increase usage.  It was also suggested that work to reduce speeding needed to be undertaken, particularly in 20mph zones.

The provision of a tube map style of map for cycle routes in the borough and this made more accessible to residents.

Work to address school run traffic to encourage parent and children to use more active travel methods of getting to and from schools.

Work with health professionals to promote the health benefits of increased active travel.

Work to incentivise a reduction in motor vehicle use such as by the introduction of charging for car parking at district shopping centres although there were a number of alternative view expressed on this option.

The provision of proper signage to assist active travellers.

The above suggestions were taken away by the officers.

It was agreed that the above suggestions be taken away and explored further