Agenda item

The Planning and Transport Officer submitted for the Committee’s consideration the following report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report/Summary of Main Issues

1.1       To provide background and outline some of the issues to consider in the context of the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) presentation on the implementation of the Belfast Bicycle Network Plan.

2.0       Recommendation

            It is recommended that the Committee notes the background and consider the issues in respect of the implementation of the Bicycle Network Plan including opportunities for joint action with the DfI Cycling Unit.

3.0       Main Report

            Belfast Bicycle Network Plan

3.1       The Council responded to the public consultation on the Draft Belfast Bicycle Network Plan in March 2017, highlighting the following issues:

·        the need for investment and clarification on the resources available to implement the plan within the proposed timeframes;

·        the omission from the draft Plan of a number of the main arterial routes which could service high density residential areas from the primary network in particular in west Belfast, south Belfast and north Belfast; and

·        identification of opportunities to improve connections to the existing greenways supporting the development of a network in the East of the city.

3.2      It is recognised that DfI has made some progress on developing the cycling network in the City centre, however, there remains a lack of significant progress on establishing a coherent bicycle network city-wide. There is a need for convenient and safe cycling infrastructure linking the city centre to the north, west and south of the city. Further investment is also required to maximise opportunities around the development of greenways such as the Comber and Connswater Greenway and develop new greenways.

3.3       The implementation of the Belfast Bicycle Network Plan would indicate a contribution to delivering a number of the outcomes of the Belfast Agenda in particular ‘Belfast is a vibrant, attractive, connected and environmentally sustainable city’. An indicator of this outcome is to increase ‘the percentage of all journeys which are made by walking, cycling or public transport’. It is also in line with the emerging policy in the Local Development Plan, draft Plan Strategy to promote active travel and the Green and Blue Infrastructure plan. It is suggested that the following issues and initial priority areas (in Bold) are raised with DfI for consideration.

            A Community Greenway Route to Service the West of the City.

3.4       There is a lack of cycling infrastructure for west Belfast, the main option remains that of using the bus lanes to connect with the city centre and other networks. The alignment of a proposed greenway route could link the Transport Hub and Belfast City Centre along the busway to the Westlink and Bog Meadows. This connection could be extended alongside the M1 Motorway corridor to connect with the Lagan Towpath and Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park to the south. The proposed route and connections has the potential to link high density residential areas in the west of the city to the Lagan Towpath and the city centre. It is considered that it would provide a safer environment in which to encourage greater uptake of cycling

3.5       It is worth noting the council’s PEACE IV Connecting open spaces project, which seeks to create a pathway and cycleway network (approx. 10km) to connect communities across west Belfast, is currently in progress (Development stage). At a project level Property and Projects Department has initiated engagement with DfI.

            South/Southeast Belfast linking to proposed Gasworks Bridge and Towpath.

3.6       Cyclists currently share the bus lane on the Ormeau Road which is operational between 7.30 a.m. to 9.30 a.m. and 3.30 pm to 6.00 p.m. Monday to Friday. The bus lane runs in both directions but is not continuous and heavily used. There is a shared path section from Park Road to the Ormeau Bridge and an advisory cycle lane on the Ravenhill Road (which experiences a high level of parking outside the urban clearway restricted times). A high quality dedicated route along the Ormeau Road or Ravenhill Road would link to the towpath and National cycle route and potentially a Gasworks bridge. The ability to link the city centre to the Ormeau Park area through a new Gasworks Bridge would establish a high quality active travel route for pedestrians and cyclists who live and work in the city centre.

            South West Belfast

3.7       The draft Belfast Bicycle Network plan includes a Southwest Route 5 which links Castle Junction to Finaghy Road North utilising the Boucher Road industrial estate. However, the potential to improve cycle infrastructure along the Lisburn and Malone Roads which service high density residential areas has been omitted and should also be considered as part of a wider network.

            North Belfast

3.8       The draft Belfast Bicycle Network Plan identifies the North Route 8 which links the City Hall to Gray’s Lane and to Whiteabbey. Similar to other areas in Belfast cyclists currently use the bus lanes (Antrim and Shore Road). The development of Route 8 could greatly improve opportunities for cycling in north Belfast. Linkages though to the new York Street bridge as part of the York Street Interchange project should also be included linking into the city centre and Ulster University Belfast campus in both directions.

            East Belfast - The Sydenham Greenway

3.9       There is an opportunity to connect the existing Comber Greenway and Connswater Community Greenway with the North Down Coastal Path at Holywood. This could provide a link to the City Airport, Harbour Estate, D5 and the proposed park and ride facility at Tillysburn.  This proposal would deliver elements of the Green and Blue infrastructure plan (as part of the ongoing Local Development Plan work) to consider routes and links along green corridors and rivers which can be used to promote cycling and walking.

3.10      For information a copy of the draft Belfast Network Plan and consultation report can be assessed by using this web link to the DfI site: https://www.infrastructure-ni.gov.uk/consultations/draft-belfast-bicycle-network-2017-consultation

            Financial and Resource Implications

3.11      There would be resource implications associated with the implementation of the bicycle network proposals if carried out in partnership with DfI which would need to be assessed at project development stage and bought back for committee consideration.

            Equality or Good Relations Implications

3.12      No specific equality or good relations implications.”

The Planning and Transport Officer provided an overview of the report and stated that Mr. A. Grieve, Safe and Sustainable Travel Division, Department for Infrastructure, and Mr. J. Hobbs, NI Greenways, were in attendance in order to comment on the Plan.

Mr. Grieve explained that the Department for Infrastructure’s public consultation on the Belfast Bicycle Network Plan had taken place over a three-month period, commencing in early 2017. He reported that over two hundred written responses had been submitted, including one from the Council, with the majority of those confirming support for the proposed bicycle network, wishing to see it implemented as the earliest opportunity and expressing concern at the lack of cycle paths along many of the arterial routes. It was evident also that the North and West of the City faced particular challenges in relation to developing cycling infrastructure and that there were areas where cycle use was particularly low. That had been emphasised further by work which had been undertaken by the Department for Infrastructure and Urban Villages in the Collin area, which had led to walking and cycling studies being commissioned for the North and West of the City. Those studies would, he indicated, inform the overall development of the cycling network.

He confirmed that the comments which had been made by the Council and other stakeholders, specifically around the need to adapt more arterial routes in the South and East of the City for cycling, to identify more traffic-free ‘greenway’ routes and to improve connections to existing routes, would be used in the development of the final bicycle network. In terms of funding, which had been raised by the Council, Mr. Grieve stated that it was hoped that some additional resources would be made available to progress the development of the plan. 

Mr. Grieve and Mr. Monaghan then clarified a number of points which had been raised by the Committee.        

Mr. Hobbs informed the Members that he had been involved with Greenways NI for the past seven years and was the editor of the Bikefast website, which focused upon everyday cycling issues in Belfast. He reported that, in the previous year, he had written a series of articles in support of objections to the Belfast Bicycle Network Plan and that those had been referenced in approximately 41% of the two hundred odd responses to the Department for Infrastructure’s public consultation. He highlighted a number of key issues which needed to be given greater consideration in the context of the proposed network plan around, for example, traffic congestion and childhood obesity, and stated that, unless the current under investment in infrastructure was significantly addressed and safe and attractive cycling routes were provided, the proposed plan would have limited success. He drew the Members’ attention to cycling initiatives being delivered in cities such as London and Manchester and stressed that the Council had a significant role to play by providing cycling infrastructures within its open spaces, such as the Giant’s Park, and by lobbying for the Gasworks bridge to be prioritised.

The Strategic Director of Place and Economy explained that the Department for Infrastructure was engaged in discussions with the Council around the Local Development Plan and how the Council would meet its infrastructure requirements, given that the number of people, jobs and housing would be expanding over the coming years. He added that the Belfast City Centre Regeneration and Investment Strategy, which was being implementing currently, permitted the Council to increase cycling provision within the City.  

Mr. Hobbs then addressed a number of points which had been raised by the Members and, together with Mr. Grieve and Mr. Monaghan, was thanked by the Chairperson.

The Committee noted the information which had been provided and that it would receive further updates as the Belfast Bicycle Network Plan was developed.