Could Hull be the UK’S Amsterdam?
PLANS FOR FUTURE OF CYCLING IN THE CITY
COULD Hull become the Amsterdam of the UK? The city is at the centre of a £200m push to spark a “golden age” for cycling and walking by making it possible for more people to leave the car at home.
The government funding includes so-called “Mini-holland” programmes, which aim to investigate how cities such as Hull can become as pedestrian and cycle-friendly as Dutch communities.
It comes on top of a £10m cash pot for new walking and cycling schemes across Yorkshire.
Ministers hope cities like Hull will see a vast improvement in cycling networks, eventually leading to quieter roads and cleaner air.
Commuters in Hull are also being given a chance to use electric bikes for free. Up to £8m is going towards the “Cycling Made E-asy” programme, which will begin this summer.
So will all this lead to a cycling revolution? Amsterdam has some of the best on and off-road cycle networks in the world, but in Hull new cycle lanes on busy roads have caused controversy in some quarters over the past few years.
Motorists have complained that the cycle lanes have disrupted the flow of traffic and are causing more problems than they solve.
Meanwhile, anyone who cycles on the off-road network of shared cycling/footpaths will know that they can often be affected by broken glass and overgrown foliage.
Could an upgrade of the off-road and quieter-road networks be the answer?
It’s early days. Kust £1.5m has been earmarked for the “Holland” schemes in 19 areas so far - while a further £35m has been awarded to upgrade 44 off-road sections of the National Cycle Network - which includes routes such as the Hull to Hornsea rail trail, the Trans Pennine Trail and Spurn to Manchester.
Like in Amsterdam, 100 years ago bicycles greatly outnumbered cars in pan-flat Hull, but during the course of the 20th century, that changed.
In the Netherlands, cycling enthusiasts worked with authorities to establish a 20,000-mile network of cycle routes, while in British cities, the car ruled supreme.
However, Hull City Council now says its transport priorities include making walking and cycling the first choice for short journeys.
It is encouraging people to have their say on transport strategy by holding a serious of consultations.
Speaking about the new Government initiatives, Transport Minister Trudy Harrison said: “This multimillion-pound investment will ensure people right across the country can access cheap, healthy and zero-emission travel.
“Active Travel England will be working hard to create a new golden age of walking and cycling, enabling everyone to reap the benefits of a more active lifestyle, creating streets where children can play, and making nicer places to live.”
Chris Boardman, the Olympic medal-winning cyclist who now leads Active Travel England, said: “This is all about enabling people to leave their cars at home and enjoy local journeys on foot or by bike.
“Active Travel England is going to make sure high-quality spaces for cycling, wheeling and walking are delivered across all of England, creating better streets, a happier school run and healthier, more pleasant journeys to work and the shops.”
Xavier Brice, the chief executive of charity Sustrans, which manages the National Cycle Network, said investment in the routes will make “walking, wheeling and cycling a safer, more convenient and more accessible travel option for everyone”.
He added: “The network is a national asset that is loved locally.”