POOLE Agenda 21

Improved Provision for Cycles in the Conurbation Project

Last year, the Poole/Bournemouth connurbation had the fastest deteriorating average road speed of any city in the UK. Poole LA21 is working to promote the opportunities for better pedestrian, cycling and public transport facilities to assist in reducing road congestion, improve air quality, and a better urban environment.

We are working to lobby the councils, and to inform the public of what we need to change. The greatest argument is won by people making the effort to get 'on yer bike'.

Poole Cycleways . / . Commuting - Promenade and Wessex Way . / . National Cycleways . / . (LA21 Projects)

Commuting

Many people live and work in different parts of the conurbation of Poole / Bournemouth / Christchurch. The commuting problem is therefore at least conurbation wide.

People also commute in from Swanage, rural East Dorset, and the New Forest area, and although we are 2 hours from London, some commute to further afield.

In the urban environment, it is often quicker to cycle than to drive, but showering, lockers and safe cycle storage are often a problem. To reduce gridlock, and benefit the environment and individuals, we need to promote cycle commuting, and to provide real incentives to offset the occasional inconvenience of getting wet.

LA21 Ideas Commentary
Innovation and incentive Cycle routes must follow desire lines - direct routes, with priority or at least simple junctions with other traffic
Priority must shift from the easy corners of town to assessing links for centres of populations and employment/schools
Poole and Bournemouth Promenade Our conurbation is hilly, but the beach and promenade stretch from Hengisbury head near the border of Christchurch borough, via the centre of Bournemouth to Sandbanks, where a reasonably flat route goes onwards to Poole Centre. As a mostly car free route with a beautiful view we believe it should be made available for use at peak commuting times all year, and unrestricted out of season.
Bournemouth Borough - mostly now tolerated
Borough of Poole 8:30am -10:30pm ban (but not for dogs, skateboards or in line skaters)
We have met with Councillors and officials from Poole
We are taking part with East Dorset FoE in peaceful protests (picture 3/10/98, shows petition presentation to the Mayor of Poole, Cllr Graham Curtis.)
Update: Borough of Poole proposed bylaws were thrown out by Government as too complex. Cycling is permitted in the winter months, but under review for summer 2003
Wessex Way Is the only alternative flat route east/west apart from the Promenade, but busy and very fast. It is a dual carridgeway with breakdown lanes. Reduced speed limits (50 mph along part already) and provision of a dedicated cyclepath would improve safety.

Explore incentives with employers Company benefits from reduced expensive car parking space requirements
Fitter (and more awake) staff !
(also see employer initiatives)
Uncertainty over train transfers To satisfy peak seating demand on London trains, South Western Trains have limited their Wessex Electrics stock to accommodate 5 bikes stored hanging up. It can be difficult to elevate the bike, but disastrous to combined journeys if the capacity has already been reached. We propose a radical overhaul of local Train transport, and that cycling be positively considered in that review.

LA21 Ideas	Commentary
Innovation and incentive	Cycle routes must follow desire lines - direct routes, with priority or at least simple junctions with other traffic Priority must shift from the easy corners of town to assessing links for centres of populations and employment/schools
Poole and Bournemouth Promenade	Our conurbation is hilly, but the beach and promenade stretch from Hengisbury head near the border of Christchurch borough, via the centre of Bournemouth to Sandbanks, where a reasonably flat route goes onwards to Poole Centre. As a mostly car free route with a beautiful view we believe it should be made available for use at peak commuting times all year, and unrestricted out of season. Bournemouth Borough - mostly now tolerated Borough of Poole 8:30am -10:30pm ban (but not for dogs, skateboards or in line skaters) We have met with Councillors and officials from Poole We are taking part with East Dorset FoE in peaceful protests (picture 3/10/98, shows petition presentation to the Mayor of Poole, Cllr Graham Curtis.) Update: Borough of Poole proposed bylaws were thrown out by Government as too complex. Cycling is permitted in the winter months, but under review for summer 2003
Wessex Way	Is the only alternative flat route east/west apart from the Promenade, but busy and very fast. It is a dual carridgeway with breakdown lanes. Reduced speed limits (50 mph along part already) and provision of a dedicated cyclepath would improve safety.
Explore incentives with employers	Company benefits from reduced expensive car parking space requirements Fitter (and more awake) staff ! (also see employer initiatives)
Uncertainty over train transfers	To satisfy peak seating demand on London trains, South Western Trains have limited their Wessex Electrics stock to accommodate 5 bikes stored hanging up. It can be difficult to elevate the bike, but disastrous to combined journeys if the capacity has already been reached. We propose a radical overhaul of local Train transport, and that cycling be positively considered in that review.

We have been working with other local groups on possibilities.

the local branch of the CTC (Cycle Touring Club)
East Dorset FOE
Dorset Cyclists Network
Greenlink planning a network of safe routes for all non motorised travellers

and with the Highways department of the Borough of Poole.

If you would like to contribute to discussions, we would be pleased to hear from you.

To find out more about any of our projects, contact LA21 volunteers

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