Note: Please vote and rate this idea at https://www.geovation.org.uk/challenge/topic.php?id=787
1. Idea Summary (in a nutshell)
To identify and promote an instantly recognisable 8-spoke cycling route system into and out of Newcastle City centre. Each major commuting corridor in Newcastle will be supplemented with an easily recognisable signature cycling route - the spoke - building on London’s Cycle Superhighways experience. The proposed 8-spoke network will become the reference framework to rally all interest groups: Newcastle City Council, researchers, campaign and community groups.
2. How would this work? [200 words max]
Newcastle-upon-Tyne is the regional capital of North East England, attracting 100,000 commuting trips a day. Many of these trips originate from within a 5-mile cycleable radius, based on a survey carried out by the Newcastle Cycling Campaign (2010). However, cycling uptake is relatively low, despite a large student population, various cycling routes, manageable landscape relief and reasonable cycling conditions. There are two major constraints working against cycling in Newcastle: attitudes towards cyclists and perceived adverse cycling conditions. These can be addressed by identifying and promoting a comprehensive, safe and easily recognisable cycling route system.
This project will design a recognisable 8-spoke cycling network, identify physical challenges on these routes and propose ways to address those. The proposed cycling network will connect the East, West and North of Newcastle to the City Centre, with two easily recognisable signature routes per direction. Two additional routes will be crossing the Tyne to connect Newcastle and Gateshead, across the river. The Geovation challenge funds will be used in recruiting volunteers and experts to identify, promote and engineer the 8-spoke network. The idea will require us to: recruit volunteers and experts; collect, process and analyse data; publish outcomes including feedback loops for continuous improvement.
3. Please explain how your idea could have the potential to improve transport in Britain? [100 words max]
Active travel is one of the key elements to create liveable and sustainable cities. Cycling as a mode of transport has the potential not only to enhance the physical well being of individuals, but also to alleviate climate change, offer cheaper transportation, lower congestion in peak hours and improve air quality. By providing signature routes and proposing improvements by community involvement and cycle-supportive experts, cycling numbers will increase, ‘normalising’ cycling and starting a cycling revolution with a significant shift towards sustainable active travel. This flagship approach with its learnings, including visualisation tools and gained experience, can then be replicated elsewhere.
4. What practical steps are required to realise your idea? [200 words max]
• Analyse geographically a cycling survey carried out by the Newcastle City Campaign (2010)
• Use OS OpenData to identify in detail an instantly recognisable 8-spoke cycling route system
• Run focus groups with cyclists to consult and reach consensus on proposed route network
• Collect and analyse detailed field data on the individual routes of the 8-spoke system
• Develop an active map of the cycling route network with additional data and analysis on the Newcastle Cycling Campaign website and free access to the cycling community
• Work with local stakeholders (Newcastle City Council and North East Active Transport) to publicise and promote an instantly recognisable 8-spoke cycling route system
The map and related findings will be a powerful tool to recommend physical improvements on the ground to enable the 8-spoke system to be:
i. continuous (existing network, as highlighted by local surveyis very fragmented)
ii. safe (measures need to be taken to address potential areas of conflict between road users)
iii. convenient (a large proportion of new cyclists will be commuters, so it is important that these routes are as direct as possible)
iv. visible (e.g. use of strategic signage)
OpenData will be used throughout the project: background map for analysis, publication and dissemination.
5. Stage of progress (Idea/Work in progress/Complete) :
Work in progress. A “cognitive map” of the network has been proposed by management committee members of the Newcastle Cycling Campaign (Bill Dodds and Katja Leyendecker), but this needs further geographical analysis, data collection and evaluation.
Disclaimer: This is a collaborative idea, between Seraphim Alvanides (Academic) and Godwin Yeboah (PhD student) from Northumbria University, with Katja Leyendecker (Chair) and Claire Prospert (Secretary) from Newcastle Cycling Campaign newcycling.org.uk [SMK Foundation Campaigner Award 2010, Transport category]
6. Are you a student or researcher in a higher and further education establishment?
Yes. Seraphim Alvanides (Academic) and Godwin Yeboah (PhD student), both at Northumbria University’s School of the Built and Natural Environment: http://www.northumbria.ac.uk/sd/academic/sobe/divisions/prop/meet/alvanides
To identify and promote an instantly recognisable 8-spoke cycling route system into and out of Newcastle City centre. Each major commuting corridor in Newcastle will be supplemented with an easily recognisable signature cycling route - the spoke - building on London’s Cycle Superhighways experience. The proposed 8-spoke network will become the reference framework to rally all interest groups: Newcastle City Council, researchers, campaign and community groups.
2. How would this work? [200 words max]
Newcastle-upon-Tyne is the regional capital of North East England, attracting 100,000 commuting trips a day. Many of these trips originate from within a 5-mile cycleable radius, based on a survey carried out by the Newcastle Cycling Campaign (2010). However, cycling uptake is relatively low, despite a large student population, various cycling routes, manageable landscape relief and reasonable cycling conditions. There are two major constraints working against cycling in Newcastle: attitudes towards cyclists and perceived adverse cycling conditions. These can be addressed by identifying and promoting a comprehensive, safe and easily recognisable cycling route system.
This project will design a recognisable 8-spoke cycling network, identify physical challenges on these routes and propose ways to address those. The proposed cycling network will connect the East, West and North of Newcastle to the City Centre, with two easily recognisable signature routes per direction. Two additional routes will be crossing the Tyne to connect Newcastle and Gateshead, across the river. The Geovation challenge funds will be used in recruiting volunteers and experts to identify, promote and engineer the 8-spoke network. The idea will require us to: recruit volunteers and experts; collect, process and analyse data; publish outcomes including feedback loops for continuous improvement.
3. Please explain how your idea could have the potential to improve transport in Britain? [100 words max]
Active travel is one of the key elements to create liveable and sustainable cities. Cycling as a mode of transport has the potential not only to enhance the physical well being of individuals, but also to alleviate climate change, offer cheaper transportation, lower congestion in peak hours and improve air quality. By providing signature routes and proposing improvements by community involvement and cycle-supportive experts, cycling numbers will increase, ‘normalising’ cycling and starting a cycling revolution with a significant shift towards sustainable active travel. This flagship approach with its learnings, including visualisation tools and gained experience, can then be replicated elsewhere.
4. What practical steps are required to realise your idea? [200 words max]
• Analyse geographically a cycling survey carried out by the Newcastle City Campaign (2010)
• Use OS OpenData to identify in detail an instantly recognisable 8-spoke cycling route system
• Run focus groups with cyclists to consult and reach consensus on proposed route network
• Collect and analyse detailed field data on the individual routes of the 8-spoke system
• Develop an active map of the cycling route network with additional data and analysis on the Newcastle Cycling Campaign website and free access to the cycling community
• Work with local stakeholders (Newcastle City Council and North East Active Transport) to publicise and promote an instantly recognisable 8-spoke cycling route system
The map and related findings will be a powerful tool to recommend physical improvements on the ground to enable the 8-spoke system to be:
i. continuous (existing network, as highlighted by local surveyis very fragmented)
ii. safe (measures need to be taken to address potential areas of conflict between road users)
iii. convenient (a large proportion of new cyclists will be commuters, so it is important that these routes are as direct as possible)
iv. visible (e.g. use of strategic signage)
OpenData will be used throughout the project: background map for analysis, publication and dissemination.
5. Stage of progress (Idea/Work in progress/Complete) :
Work in progress. A “cognitive map” of the network has been proposed by management committee members of the Newcastle Cycling Campaign (Bill Dodds and Katja Leyendecker), but this needs further geographical analysis, data collection and evaluation.
Disclaimer: This is a collaborative idea, between Seraphim Alvanides (Academic) and Godwin Yeboah (PhD student) from Northumbria University, with Katja Leyendecker (Chair) and Claire Prospert (Secretary) from Newcastle Cycling Campaign newcycling.org.uk [SMK Foundation Campaigner Award 2010, Transport category]
6. Are you a student or researcher in a higher and further education establishment?
Yes. Seraphim Alvanides (Academic) and Godwin Yeboah (PhD student), both at Northumbria University’s School of the Built and Natural Environment: http://www.northumbria.ac.uk/sd/academic/sobe/divisions/prop/meet/alvanides
