Hastings Walking and Cycling Strategy 2014

Hastings Walking and Cycling Strategy

Clean, Green and Safe Pedestrian/Cycle Routes in Hastings & St Leonards

Aspirations

Develop a Culture of Walking and Cycling:

• Support Local Economy: Integrate walking and cycling to reduce congestion and improve access to development sites.
• Health and Wellbeing: Promote active travel to improve public health and reduce accidents.

Align with Policies:

• National Policies: Contribute to reducing carbon emissions, improving air quality, and reducing congestion.
• Local Policies: Enhance economic growth, safety, health, accessibility, social inclusion, and quality of life.

Practical Interventions

Infrastructure Improvements:

• Safe Routes: Develop safer walking and cycling routes to reduce accidents.
• Cycling Network: Create a comprehensive cycling network to connect key areas, including Bexhill and Hastings.

Integration with Transport:

• Sustainable Transport: Encourage integration of walking and cycling with public transport to support seamless travel.
• Infrastructure Development: Implement projects that support walking and cycling within larger transport infrastructure plans.

Behavioral Change Initiatives:

• Training and Marketing: Provide training and run marketing campaigns to promote walking and cycling.
• Partnerships: Collaborate with local authorities, voluntary sectors, and community groups to support these initiatives.

Health and Safety:

• Accident Reduction: Implement measures to reduce the risk of accidents for pedestrians and cyclists.
• Health Promotion: Highlight the health benefits of active travel and integrate these messages into public health campaigns.

Funding and Investment:

• Local Growth Fund: Secure funding from the Local Growth Fund for transport, skills, and housing projects that include walking and cycling components.
• Strategic Economic Plans: Develop and include walking and cycling projects in strategic economic plans to attract investment.

Community Engagement:

• Consultation: Engage with local communities and stakeholders to gather input and support for walking and cycling projects.
• Promotion: Encourage a cultural shift towards walking and cycling through community events and promotions.

By focusing on these aspirations and practical measures, the strategy aims to embed walking and cycling into the daily lives of residents and visitors, enhancing the overall transportation network and contributing to broader economic, health, and environmental goals.

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Shaping Hastings: Core Strategy Issues and Options

The document (linked above) summarizes responses to a consultation question regarding transport and accessibility in Hastings.

Question 9.1
We need an integrated package of measures to improve transport and accessibility to and within the town. Measures to achieve this could include:
a. Reduce sole reliance on the car for accessibility to and from new developments and give priority to measures that increase the level of accessibility by public transport, walking or cycling. One measure could be to expand the use of 20mph traffic zones
b. Develop quality transport interchanges and links for the integration of all transport modes
c. Safeguard key transport corridors to provide for an integrated public transport system
d. Provide for ‘state of the art’ communications, signing and traffic management systems
e. Work in partnership with bus, train, rail and freight operators and related agencies to secure improvements to passenger transport and freight services through the development of Quality Partnerships
f. Work with local businesses, residents and transport operators to promote sustainable travel patterns and secure improved facilities and road safety through initiatives such as ‘Safer Journeys to School’, ‘Green Travel Plans’ and subsidised bus routes to bring potential customers into retail areas
g. Direct high density development to those areas well served by a choice of transport modes and to areas close to transport interchanges, and ensure that developments which would generate large amounts of traffic or which are of sub-regional importance are located in areas accessible by a range of transport services
h. Specify the provision of cycle and pedestrian routes and facilities such as cycle racks and lockers in major new developments. Consideration also needs to be given to the places people will travel to from these developments such as stations, offices and retail areas
i. Work with partners to complete the National Cycle Network route through Hastings and encourage the use of green ways.
j. Implement traffic management measures in accordance with the Local Transport Plan, to provide for more efficient movement of traffic, the prioritisation of highway and footpath maintenance and environmental enhancements
k. Ensure car parking is provided to meet the operational needs of users
l. Upgrading the A21 – making journey times more reliable
m. Improved bus routes running well into the evening hours, perhaps considering use of mini bus services that visit all of the town not just priority areas. Accurate information about bus timetables is essential to a successful service
n. Identify innovative approaches to alternative transport such as bi-fuel cars, electric cars, LPG fuel, bike powered rickshaws, and ferries
o. Seek to develop our transport and business links with France; as one resident said “France is closer than Chichester!”

Here are the most common responses:

1. Support for the Overall Approach:

• Agree: 88%
• Disagree: 9%
• No Opinion: 3%.

Comments on the Integrated Package of Measures:

• Upgrading the A21: Considered critical for Hastings’ prosperity and widely supported.
• Improving Bus Services: Frequent and regular bus services are needed, with suggestions for minibuses and enhanced evening routes.
• Cycling and Pedestrian Infrastructure: Encouraging cycling through training in schools and providing adequate infrastructure was highlighted.
• Rail Services: Enhancements to rail links to London, Brighton, and Ashford International were suggested to improve safety and environmental sustainability
• Park and Ride: Mixed opinions, with some opposing its implementation in Hastings.
• Innovative Transport Solutions: Support for alternative transport methods, including bi-fuel cars, electric vehicles, bike-powered rickshaws, and ferries.

Disagreements and Suggestions for Changes:

• Public Realm Improvements: Enhancing pavements and footpaths.
• Parking Regulations: Suggestions to manage parking more effectively, including making specific areas red routes.
• Tourism Transport: Need to address the transport implications of tourism explicitly.

Overall, there was strong support for upgrading infrastructure, improving public transport services, and promoting sustainable and innovative transport solutions.

Consulatation responses specific to cycling

Common Points For and Against Cycling Proposals

Points in Favor:

1. Safety Improvements: There is a strong call for more cycleways to make cycling safer in the town, as current conditions are deemed dangerous.
2. Infrastructure Enhancements: Suggestions include negotiating for platform cycle parking at railway stations for security and weather protection, creating cycle links between the national cycle network and railway stations, and emphasizing road markings and advanced stop sections at traffic lights to assist cyclists.
3. Integrated Networks: Support for a cycling and walking network that is integrated into transport plans, not just treated as an optional add-on. There is a push for these networks to be accessible for disabled cyclists as well.
4. Greenways: There is an emphasis on the development of greenways that would benefit both cyclists and pedestrians.
5. Public Transport Integration: Improved cycling infrastructure is seen as complementary to public transport, reducing the need for car use and promoting a healthier, more environmentally friendly alternative.

Points Against:

1. Geographical Challenges: The natural geography of Hastings, with its steep hills, is cited as a significant barrier to making the town a major cycling area. This topography makes cycling less appealing and practical for many residents.
2. Behavioural Issues: Concerns about cyclist behavior, especially on pavements, where they are perceived to be a danger to pedestrians, particularly the elderly. There are calls for better enforcement of cycling regulations to ensure pedestrian safety.
3. Infrastructure Limitations: The current state of roads and transport infrastructure is seen as inadequate for safe cycling, necessitating substantial improvements before cycling can be promoted more broadly.
4. Competing Priorities: Some feedback suggests that resources might be better spent on improving other forms of public transport rather than cycling infrastructure, given the town’s topographical challenges and existing transport needs.

These points reflect a community divided on the feasibility and priority of cycling initiatives, balancing safety, practicality, and resource allocation concerns.