onionbagblog

Published as part of the Keep Colchester Cycling project.

There is sense of symmetry in the latest advice being given to Colchester commuters who want to avoid the car congestion that is increasingly taking over our town: Get on yer bike.

It may have been a phrase born out of Chingford (and quite possibly with rather strong political overtones…) but the mantra of pedal power as the solution to many modern day woes is something that we are rather in tune with here at Keep Colchester Cycling.

Essex County Council is encouraging residents to cycle to work, if they live within a three-mile radius of their site location. This solution is not being put forward purely for County Council employees, but also the wider working population within the county.

We first heard this message at the Active Travel conference staged recently at Essex University. Representing the local authority, Harvey Panrucker spoke passionately about how the council’s own bike pool scheme has been a huge success.

Plans are now in place to positively promote cycling as a sustainable solution to commuting woes around the county. With unprecedented levels in local authority funding currently being cut, Essex County Council is looking at new approaches to previous problems. Cycling as a solution to saving money from the Highways budget is being considered.

Research suggests that 30% of commuters live within a three-mile radius of their workplace, with only 3% currently commuting via bike. Essex County Council has issued a draft transport strategy, observing:

“Significant increases in cycling in Colchester and Harlow have been achieved through sustained investment in cycle networks and promoting cycling, indicating that there is significant opportunity for growth.”

Here at Keep Colchester Cycling and we firmly believe that the choice is down to the individual. As outlined in the presentation by Harvey at the Active Travel conference, when support and encouragement is offered, most commuters ditch their cars in favour of bicyles.

On yer bike may have worked back in the day (or not…) but the best approach to promoting cycling is to improve the ease of access. This is the fundamental aim of our own Colchester bike pool scheme: put the bikes out there, and let the individual decide if it will work for them.

Keep Chingford Cycling?

Now there’s an idea..