Cycle traffic and the

Strategic Road Network

Sandra Brown, Team Leader, Safer Roads- Design

Highways England – A Government owned

Strategic Highways Company

Department for Transport

Road Investment

Strategy

December 2014

Highways England

Strategic Business Plan

December 2014

Highways England

Delivery Plan

March 2015

The Strategic Road Network in England

© Crown copyright and database

rights 2013 Ordnance Survey

100030649

Approximately 7,000km in length

Consists of approximately:

40% motorways

60% all-purpose single or dual

carriageways

Accounts for approximately:

34% of all road traffic

67% of freight traffic

The Strategic Road Network in England

© Crown copyright and database

rights 2013 Ordnance Survey

100030649

Motorways and high speed rural

single and dual-carriageways

Perceived as a barrier to cycle traffic

Causes severance to local

communities

Not conducive to cycling

Time for change

The nature of the Strategic Road Network means that provision for cycle

traffic has not been a key factor in the past

Providing for cycle traffic has been a problem for designers and is often left to

the latter stages of scheme design which limits what provision can be

accommodated

Provision for cycle traffic has been perceived to be a ‘bolt-on’ solution, rather

than a key element of the design

The result can be inadequate provision, fragmented and inconsistent with the

needs of cycle traffic

The Government commitment

Cycle Delivery Plan:

Vision – “that walking and cycling become the natural choices for shorter

journeys – or as part of a longer journey – regardless of age, gender, fitness

or income”

Ambition for Cycling:

Cycle Proofing – “making greater provision for cycling on the strategic road

network by correcting historic problems, retrofitting the latest solutions and

ensuring that it is easy and safe for cyclists to use junctions”

Investment:

To improve access, integration and facilities on and around the Strategic

Road Network –

£4.8m (€6.7m) during 2013-14 to 2014-15

£15m (€21m) during 2015-16

£100m (€139m) 2015 to 2020

Designated funding – 2015-20

o £100m (€139m) will be invested to improve

provision for cyclists on all-purpose trunk roads

o Targeted to provide safe and direct routes that

encourage cycling on and over the Strategic

Road Network

o Worked with key cycling stakeholders, including

British Cycling, Sustrans and the Cyclists’ Touring

Club to identify and prioritise a comprehensive list

of locations based on an assessment of safety,

connectivity and accessibility

o A package of more than 40 schemes (including

dedicated cycle lane facilities, improved crossing

points and cycling safety measures) are already

in design and development with the aim of

completing construction during 2015-16

Designated funding – 2015-20

o The annual rolling programme of cycling

schemes will continue to be developed

throughout 2015-16

o The programme will ultimately deliver no

fewer than 200 cycling facilities or

crossing points on and around the

Strategic Road Network by 2021

o Investments will be cycle proofed by

building in cycling facilities where

appropriate

o Investment in cycling schemes by local

authorities surrounding the Strategic

Road Network will also be supported

Providing for Cycle Traffic

‘Providing parallel routes, safe access and

crossing points on the Strategic Road Network’

Five key design criteria:

o Safety – providing a safer environment for cycle traffic

o Directness – minimising journey times to destinations

o Coherence – providing links to destinations and other cycle routes,

including local authority routes

o Attractiveness – inviting, visually pleasing

o Comfort – good quality, well maintained, easy to use for all types of

cyclist

Highways England Cycling Strategy

For the first time, Highways England is producing a bespoke Cycling Strategy:

o Vision

• building on the five key design criteria

o Background

• policy Context

• making the case for investment in cycling

• delivering cycling measures

• emphasis on the opportunities to improve cycling delivery

o How the vision will be achieved

• identification of actions

• based on process, culture and people

o Measuring success

• identification of milestones in 2021 and 2040

• monitoring and evaluation

Cycling Task – key workstreams

‘Deliver a positive change in how Highways England make provision for cycle

traffic on and around the Strategic Road Network’

E-learning Training

MarComms Strategy

Interim Advice Note

(DMRB)

Three key workstreams:

o Publication of an Interim Advice

Note adopting best practice and

up to date concepts from across

Europe

o Launch of an E-learning training

module to introduce a change in

the mind-set of designers and

engineers

o A Marketing and Communications

Strategy to engage with industry

and key stakeholders

Interim Advice Note – key aspects

Existing up to date guidance is geared towards urban roads with slower

traffic speeds and flows. Specific requirements are therefore needed for the

high speed, rural nature of the Strategic Road Network.

E-learning Training

MarComms Strategy

Interim Advice Note

(DMRB)

Introducing the term ‘cycle traffic’:

o embraces cycling as a mode of transport

o differentiates from slower moving

pedestrians and equestrians

Inclusive:

o catering for all types of cycle user

Stronger:

o mandatory requirements to facilitate

inclusion through all stages of scheme

design

Up to date:

o embracing up to date concepts from UK

and Europe

Interim Advice Note – key aspects

E-learning Training

MarComms Strategy

Interim Advice Note

(DMRB)

Introduction

o Scope

o Definitions

Design Cycle

o Defining the ‘cycle’

Design requirements for cycle traffic:

o On links

o At ‘at-grade’ junctions and crossings

o At ‘grade separated’ junctions and crossings

o At roundabouts

o At signalised roundabouts

o Grade separated junction layouts for cycle

traffic

o Traffic signs and markings for cycle traffic

o Construction and maintenance

Engagement

o Liaising with local authorities and cycle

groups

Interim Advice Note – design parameters

E-learning Training

MarComms Strategy

Interim Advice Note

(DMRB)

Design speed

o speeds of cycle traffic and the impact on

design

Gradients

o minimising effort for uphill gradients and the

impact of steep downhill gradients

Cross Section

o accommodating the ‘design cycle’

Sightlines

o safe stopping distances and the relationship

to design speeds

Headroom

o clearance and impact on natural light

Segregation

o significant safety benefits

E-learning Training

E-learning Training

MarComms Strategy

Interim Advice Note

(DMRB)

Launch

o compliments the Interim Advice Note

o assists with the change in mind-set

Interactive

o encourages use and maintains interest

Content

o highlights key aspects of the Interim Advice Note

o embraces up to date design requirements

Target user

o Highways England project managers

o supply Chain (designers, contractors)

o other stakeholders/local authorities

Creation of a bespoke E-learning computer training package to help designers

and other engineers understand the needs of cycle traffic in relation to the

high speed, rural nature of the Strategic Road Network

Marketing and Communications Strategy

E-learning Training

MarComms Strategy

Interim Advice Note

(DMRB)

o Promote the publication of the Highways

England Cycling Strategy

o Promote the development and publication of

the Interim Advice Note

o Promote the launch of the E-learning

computer training package

Creation of a bespoke Marketing and Communications Strategy to utilise internal

and external communication streams to:

Outcomes

Culture:

o ensure the supply chain and wider

industry is engaged with, and supports,

Highways England’s vision for cycling

Processes:

o embed cycling infrastructure into routine

scheme design, construction and

operations work

People:

o introduce the change in the mind-set,

develop skills, share knowledge and

engage with partners

The publication of the Cycling Strategy and the Interim Advice Note, the

launch of the E-learning computer training and the Marketing and

Communications Strategy will see positive outcomes which benefit cyclists,

promote cycling on and around the Strategic Road Network and improve safety.

Culture

Processes People

Programme (as of May 2015)

Cycling Strategy:

o currently in draft – aim to publish Summer 2015

MarComms Strategy:

o currently in draft – aim to publish Summer 2015

Interim Advice Note:

o currently in draft – aim for final draft Autumn 2015 (publication process

may require notification to Europe with a minimum 12 week standstill

period)

E-learning computer training package:

o to be developed through Summer 2015, launch to align with Interim

Advice Note

HD 42 Update

What is HD 42?

This document describes the requirements for

Non-Motorised User Audit for all trunk road

schemes including motorways. It describes the

stages at which NMU audits must be carried out

and the procedures to be followed, and gives

guidance on the issues of possible concern to

non-motorised users

What is HD 42?

Pedestrians

Last published in 2005 as part of the DMRB with the objective of encouraging the

consideration of non-motorised users on all Highway Schemes including:

Equestrians

What is HD 42?

Cyclists Disabled Persons

Basics of the NMU Audit Process

Two main types of NMU Audit Reports:

o Context Report

• Carried out as early as possible within a scheme, ideally prior to

preliminary design

• Provides a summary of all available information regarding NMUs

• Allows the setting of objectives to improve conditions for NMUs prior to

starting design

• Scheme development should not commence until NMU objectives have

been accepted by Project Sponsor

o Design Stage Audit Report

• Must be produced at each design stage specified by the Project

Sponsor

• Provides a continual assessment of NMU needs whilst monitoring

progression against previously identified objectives

• Stages of audit normally include preliminary design, detailed design

and after construction has been completed

Basics of the NMU Audit Process

o Should actively involve all members of the design team

o Be produced from a mixture of desktop work, site visits and consultation

o Are mandatory - This Standard should be used forthwith for the planning and

design of all new all-purpose trunk roads and Highway Schemes currently

being prepared, provided that in the opinion of the Overseeing Organisation

this would not result in unreasonable expense or delay to the progress of the

scheme

o Be carried out by individuals who have sufficient experience of NMU needs

and scheme development to be able to exercise judgment reliably as to the

effects of design proposals on NMUs

o Not a technical design check

Basics of the NMU Audit Process

Helps avoid poor planning for NMUs:

Why are we updating HD 42?

To help achieve wider aspirations for the road network:

o Department for Transport Road Investment Strategy

• 40% Reduction in the number of people killed or seriously injured on the

network

• Improved design standards with greater consideration of the needs of

walkers, cyclists, and local communities

o Highways Strategic Business Plan

• Providing for the needs of cyclists, pedestrians and others who walk or

ride on, near or across the network

o Tie in with other emerging DMRB Documents

• Cycling IAN

• HD 19 /15 – Road Safety Audit

o Highways England Delivery Plan

• We will upgrade and increase the number of safe crossings on the

network in the interests of the safety and convenience of more

vulnerable customers

Why are we updating HD 42?

To help reduce the level of interpretation of requirements for the following:

o What type of schemes the process should be applied to

o Relationship with the Road Safety Audit process

o Site visit, data collection and consultation requirements

o Training and experience requirements of NMU Auditors

o The differences between Context and Audit Reports

o Level of consideration required for individual users groups

o Appropriateness of objectives being set

o Size of reports

Why are we updating HD 42?

Is Non-Motorised User an appropriate term??

Is Audit an appropriate term??

How Are We Going About This?

Establishment of national Highways England NMU Audit database:

o Collating reports from the entire Highways England network into one central

location for analysis

How Are We Going About This?

o Reports will be analysed quarterly to establish:

• Compliance with RAD

• Best practice

• Areas that have been interpreted differently

• Any recurring issues

o Findings will be used to facilitate and inform update to HD 42, and in the

long run to feed best practice back into the industry whilst continuing to

monitor the performance of the RAD

Other areas to be investigated:

o Detailed review of the existing RAD

o Targeted consultation with wider industry

o Further talks with existing NMU Auditors

DUE TO BE PUBLISHED LATE 2016

Survey

A chance for you to input into the update:

Please let us know your thoughts!

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/HD42Update

Thank you

Any questions