Plans for the future

Revised June 2003 Progress to date (June 2003)

Following safety concerns raised by cyclists at Harwell and RAL, the County Council and UKAEA have redesigned the new roundabout that is being built at the junction of Fermi Avenue and the A4185. The revised layout will not have the "unrestricted left turn" into Fermi Avenue on the southern arm of the roundabout which would have placed right-turning cyclists into potential conflict with left-turning traffic. Further details of our objections to the original design of the roundabout
UKAEA and the County Council have allocated funding towards providing pedestrian/cyclist refuges at the Winnaway and Ickneild Way, which together with reduced speed limits will improve safety for all road users
Sustrans and the County Council are currently carrying further out work to improve the surfaces of some of the off-road routes between Didcot and Wantage via Harwell, with a few to opening a formal link off the NCN in the near future. This builds on improvements to the Icknield Way carried out last year, jointly funded by UKAEA and the County Council. See UKAEA press release for more information
Sustrans is making progress towards creating a cycle route on the former railway line between Didcot and Upton, although considerable funding will be required before this can be completed. More..
The roundabout at Milton Interchange has been partially signalised; making it easier for cyclists to cross from Milton Heights to Milton Park and so join the National Cycle Network route to Abingdon. Further work is planned.

We believe that there is considerable suppressed demand for cycling to the Harwell Campus. Current rates of cycle use are well below the average for Oxfordshire. We believe that there are a number of barriers to cycling that make cycle use lower than it would have been, even though the site is in a comparatively isolated position. Indeed, the rural location makes the journey to work by bike much more pleasant than in many urban areas that have higher levels of cycling.

An email survey of regular cyclists was carried out in winter 2000, providing information on the most important routes and the problems people face in using them.

The problems:

Roads with high levels of traffic making cycling less attractive
Difficult and dangerous junctions
Off-road routes that are not suitable for all weather use
Lack of secure cycle parking on site
Lack of changing facilities and showers

What we are trying to do:

We are talking to site management and employers to obtain improved cycle facilities on site.
We are talking to UKAEA and the local authorities about how cycle access to the Campus can be improved. Major new development is planned, with associated changes in the road layout underway .
We are working with Sustrans and the County Council to develop a network of safe and convenient cycle routes linking the Harwell Campus to the surrounding communities and the National Cycle Network. These routes will include both on-road improvements and off-road links.

How you can help:

Ask your employer for better workplace facilities for cyclists. Don't forget that by cycling you are avoiding the cost of a car parking space, which represents a cost of several hundred pounds per year for somebody! It is now Government policy that cycling should be encouraged, including to workplaces
Tell the County Council (the local Highways Authority) that you want to cycle to work and that you want improved cycle routes to enable you to do so more easily and safely. In particular, refer to specific junctions or other black spots where improvements, speed limits or traffic calming are required. Government guidelines require local authorities to follow "Cycle audit and review " procedures to ensure that new road schemes are suitable for cyclists and that existing ones are improved. The County has a Cycling Strategy which supports many of the measures we are proposing.
Tell the District Councils (responsible for planning) that you expect them to ensure that all new development takes account of the needs of pedestrians and cyclists, as now required by Government policy.
Join Sustrans, the engineering charity which is building the National Cycle Network.
Support some of the campaign groups that are lobbying for safer, more sustainable and equitable transport policies.
Join HarBUG and help our campaigns.
We are writing up detailed route proposals. Please take a look and pass on your comments. Contributions and ideas, especially if you have with local knowledge of the routes, are always welcome.

External links:

Sustrans

DTLR/ National Cycling Forum: National Cycling Strategy

Department for Transport (DfT): Information on (green) Travel Plans