Breadcrumbs
Bike Rail guidance launched - 17 September 2004
A new publication to help promote combined cycling and rail schemes throughout the country has been launched.
Bike and Rail - a good practice guide is jointly produced by the Department for Transport and the Countryside Agency. It provides advice and guidance for those promoting Bike and Rail schemes, highlighting a number of case studies where such initiatives have been successfully set up.
Transport Minister, Charlotte Atkins, said:
" I am delighted that guidance about combining cycling and rail journeys is being made available. Sixty per cent of the UK's population live within a 15-minute cycle ride of a railway station so there is a huge potential for such journeys which has not yet been fully tapped. I am hopeful that the new guidance will help maximise this potential."
The guide highlights good practice and encourages successful partnerships in both urban and rural areas. The case studies featured, cover a variety of Bike and Rail Projects throughout the country, which include:
- Cycle parking at stations
- Cycle-friendly stations (clear advice and signing together with easy movement around the station)
- Cycle carriage on trains
- Information and marketing
- Access and routes to stations
- Cycle hire and cycle centres
Practical guidance on forming effective partnerships to promote Bike and Rail journeys is given- noting the various sources of possible funding for projects.
Pam Warhurst, deputy chair of the Countryside Agency, said:
"Bikes are starting to be seen as a real alternative to the car - not just for short, local journeys but also for longer journeys when combined with the train. But in many places the potential is not being realised. The guidance shows that many measures can be implemented now which should lead to a big increase in opportunities for bike and rail journeys, opening up new transport options as well as improving public health."
Ms Atkins added:
"Interest in cycling has never been higher for leisure, fitness and environmental reasons. Clearly rail companies need to balance the needs of cyclists with other passengers and the new guide provides practical advice. It complements the forthcoming Strategic Rail Authority Cycling Policy document as well as the Department's own initiative to provide over 500,000 to fund improved cycle parking at stations, where demand currently exceeds provision."
Notes to Editors
1. Bike and Rail - a good practice guide is published by the Countryside Agency and is a joint Agency/DfT funded initiative. The guidance follows earlier work to encourage Bike and Rail journeys carried out by the bikerail consultancy. The Department of Transport have published Traffic Advisory Leaflet 4/04 Bike and Rail - A good practice guide that summarises the main guidance.
2. The guidance complements the forthcoming Strategic Rail Authority Cycling Policy document on which consultation was carried out during the summer.
3. The Government reaffirmed its commitment to encouraging more people to choose to walk and cycle more often in the Future of Transport (DfT)
http://www.dft.gov.uk/strategy/futureoftransport/index.htm published in July 2004.
4. The Department of Transport announced funding of over 500,000 for improved cycle parking at rail stations in its Walking and Cycling: An Action Plan, published June 2004 and available at
http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_susttravel/documents/downloadable/dft_susttravel_029204.pdf. Following a survey of rail stations by the CTC on behalf of the DfT funding of cycle parking equipment will be offered to over 200 rail stations where existing parking does not meet current demand from cyclists. The DfT is currently working with the Strategic Rail Authority to establish a programme of improvements at the selected stations.
5. The Bike and Rail good practice guide was overseen by a Steering Committee consisting of representatives of central government, local authorities, the Strategic Rail Authority, Transport Operating companies and Sustrans, the transport charity responsible for the National Cycle Network. The report was produced by the Countryside Agency, DfT and the Babtie group.
6. Both the guidance and the Traffic Advisory Leaflet are available free of charge from the Agency and Department publication centres respectively.
7. The Countryside Agency is the statutory body working to make the quality of life better for people in the countryside and the quality of the countryside better for everyone. For further information please contact the Countryside Agency press office on 020 7340 2909/7/6. Copies of Bike and Rail - a good practice guide (CA175) will be available from the Countryside Agency website www.countryside.gov.uk shortly.
Public Enquiries: 020 7944 8300
Department for Transport Website: http://www.dft.gov.uk
