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Rusholme Cycleway – campaigners call on Council to go the last mile!

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Manchester Friends of the Earth are inviting people in Greater Manchester to join in with a Bike Friday cycle ride this Friday (27th March) and help improve the cycling experience on one of Manchester’s busiest cycle routes. (1)

The Bike Friday Withington route travels along parts of the proposed Wilmslow Road Cycleway and news reports have identified it as one of the cycle routes with the highest number of reported crashes in Manchester. (2)

There is much to be welcomed in the proposed cycleway but Manchester Friends of the Earth believes that the designs need to be improved – particularly where the cycle routes cross junctions and side roads.

As the Transport for Greater Manchester Cycling Design Guidance highlights “88% of reported accidents with pedal cycle casualties occur at or within 20m of junctions. This statistic reinforces the need to ensure full and appropriate provision for cyclists at junctions.” (3)

Manchester Friends of the Earth used the Cycling Route Audit Tool – developed as part of the Welsh Government’s Active Travel Act (4) – to assess the proposed Wilmslow Road cycleway.  Our assessment found that the proposed designs fail to pass the Audit Tool test but would do so if the designs at junction and side roads were improved.

Graeme Sherriff, from Manchester Friends of the Earth said:
“Any improvement for people choosing to cycle along this, and other routes, are to be welcomed – but we believe the designs, particularly at junctions, can be improved.   We are encouraging people to support the Wilmslow Road Cycleway plans and urge Manchester City Council to improve the designs.”

Friday 27th March is the last chance for people to respond to the consultation on the Moss Lane East to Dickenson Road section of the Wilmslow Road Cycleway. (5)

ENDS

Photo opportunity: The Bike Friday bike rides will converge on Manchester Town Hall, Albert Square to deliver consultation response to City Council. 8.40am, Friday 27th March.

CONTACTS FOR COMMENTS

Graeme Sherriff, Manchester Friends of the Earth sustainable transport campaign co-ordinator. Mobile: 07948 405071

Pete Abel, Love Your Bike. Mobile: 07951 642858
NOTES TO EDITORS

(1) The Bike Friday cycle rides start at 8am from Chorlton Library, Levenshulme Station, Prestwich Pizza Express, Sale, Withington Library and Blackley Tesco and this month will finish at approx 8.30am in Albert Square, Manchester City Centre.  The Worsley and Stockport rides start earlier at 7.40am.

The Bike Friday cycle rides take place on the morning of the last Friday of every month (except December). The rides go a moderate pace, have experienced ride leaders, are entirely law-abiding and can help people develop more confidence in their cycling abilities. See www.bikefriday.org

(2)  Curry Mile tops list of most dangerous roads for cyclists. Manchester Evening News.

(3) Transport for Greater Manchester’s Cycling Design Guidance (page 22) states that “88% of reported accidents with pedal cycle casualties occur at or within 20m of junctions. This statistic reinforces the need to ensure full and appropriate provision for cyclists at junctions.”

(4) Appendix B – Cycling Route Audit Tool. Page 232 onwards

(5)  Wilmslow Road Cycleway – Moss Lane East to Dickenson Road consultation.

(6) Bike Friday combines a range of cycle rides into the City Centre from various locations as well as working with companies and local authorities in Greater Manchester to promote cycling, improve cycle facilities and to encourage more people to continue cycling to school, work and for leisure all year round.

Bike Friday is coordinated by Love Your Bike (Manchester Friends of the Earth) and Greater Manchester Cycling Campaign (GMCC)Love Your Bike is an award winning Manchester based campaign aiming to promote cycling and help make it an even more attractive, accessible and fun way to get around. Co-ordinated by Manchester Friends of the Earth, the campaign works in partnership with other like-minded organisations. See www.loveyourbike.org

(7) Manchester Friends of the Earth is an award-winning environmental campaign group, raising awareness and lobbying for policy changes at a local, regional, national and international level. The group consists entirely of volunteers, and its campaigns are funded by membership fees and individual donations. Up-to-date information is available on the group’s website: www.manchesterfoe.org.uk  Manchester Friends of the Earth is a Licensed Local Group of Friends of the Earth, England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

(8) Manchester Friends of the Earth has endorsed Manchester: A Certain Future, an action plan for the city of Manchester to cut its carbon emissions by at least 41% by 2020. For more information, visit  www.manchesterclimate.com