Hampshire County Council are rewriting their Local Transport Policy for the climate crisis.

Obviously, they'll do something for cycling, to reflect the Government’s "Gear Change for Cycling”.

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Portsmouth Water has submitted its planning applications to Havant Borough Council and East Hampshire District Council. See here and here for the reservoir applications and here for the pipeline application.

Click here to see glossy overviews of the plan prepared by Portsmouth Water. It's clearly a major undertaking with the potential to deliver considerable benefits to the area.

I recently recce'd the area's 'circular' bike route for a possible U3A ride and found it an unpleasant experience, so I was looking forward to some good news.

Unfortunately, as this outline plan shows there's no circular bike route in the plan. I couldn't find the document that describes the cycle path and crest path surfaces (let me know if you spot it - there are a lot of documents) but I fear there will not be a suitable circular route for any wheeled users. That's at least one major missed opportunity.

You can submit comments via the links above. Please submit them directly - the more people that respond in their own words, the better. You have until 4^th December for HBC, and 14^th December for EHDC.

Well the government has blown me away with the latest announcements on cycling! The Gear Change for cycling and walking is not so much a Gear Changer - more of a Game Changer. It's far and away the most radical leap forward in my lifetime.

And it has the full political backing of Boris Johnson, who has form on cycling from his time as London Mayor, and has realised that his near-death Covid-19 experience was made far worse by his weight and lack of exercise.

Here are just some of the highlights (and there are a lot) :

1. Gear Change: The master document here. Recommended reading!
2. A new Highway Code, including a hierarchy of users, cycle priority at junctions, safe passing distances.
3. Radical new Design Standards (LTN 1/20), which will be expected to be used by Local Authorities and developers, regardless of public funding or not, and no public money on schemes which don't comply.
4. Shared paths to be banned, except where there is absolutely no other solution.
5. Active Travel England as enforcement 'with teeth', headed by a new Cycling and Walking Commissioner.
6. Health, environment and community benefits to be given full weight when judging schemes.
7. Long-term cycling & walking programme with significant budget, like the roads programme and budget.
8. All new local and strategic A road schemes will provide for cycling.
9. All new housing and business developments to prioritise sustainable travel.
10. Local authorities to get more traffic control powers, including fines.
11. Less rat-running and more low-traffic neighbourhoods.
12. More School Streets to protect children.
13. Hard, smooth, level all-weather surfaces as standard.
14. Action on bike theft, more bike parking.
15. Bike training for every child and adult that wants it.
16. E-Bike support programme, including loans and subsidies.
17. Higher safety standards for lorries.
18. Improve and extend the National Cycle Network.
19. Mini-Hollands to be funded for 12 local authorities.
20. Create at least one zero-emission city.

The best write-up I've seen on it so far has been from the legendary Carlton Reid here.

When will the Havant area see any of the benefits? Well even under the accelerated timescales being proposed, it might take months or years to put in new cycle paths, which won't be easy. But we'll see £50 fix your bike vouchers as soon as their website stops crashing, and training for kids and adults fairly soon.

Game Changer is the only way to describe it.

Appeal for CycleWatchers, anywhere, but especially around Gosport and Fareham.

Could you be at Bridgemary around at 11am on Tuesday 2nd July? There’s a stakeholder viewing for the Eclipse Busway extension between Tichborne Way and Rowner Road, and our Right to Ride reps can’t make it.

[Update: 11-12 is a preview for stakeholder groups like us, but it’s also open to the public from 1pm to 7pm if that’s easier for you. The more people that turn up, of course, the better.]

All you have to do is turn up, say you’re from Cycling UK, ask how it will improve cycling, so they know we’re watching, then report back.

We particularly need more CycleWatch support in the Gosport and Fareham area, and without more cyclists pushing the councils, they could de-prioritise cycling even more than they do now.

So what’s a CycleWatcher? It’s someone who wants to see better cycle infrastructure, but isn’t ready to become a full cycle campaigner. They just watch out for issues affecting everyday cycling where they are, and report them to Mike Ashton or me, Wilf Forrow. They can do as much or as little as they want.

Some examples of useful things CycleWatchers could do:

• Tell us if cycle paths need attention, or vegetation cutting back.
• Highlight improvements needed, to routes, signage, parking, etc.
• Watch out for local road ‘improvements’ or planning applications that might affect cycling.
• Estimate numbers of cyclists, count bikes parked at shops, etc.
• Chivvy their councillors to better support cycling.
• Ask for cycle parking at local businesses, shops, health centres, dentists, etc.
• Spread the message about everyday cycling!

If you think you might be able to help, in Gosport or Fareham, or anywhere, let me know.

Thanks, Wilf

Portsmouth City Council has just voted to commit at least 10% of its local transport budget to cycling. It's a tribute to the tireless campaigning of PompeyBug, the Bicycle User Group, also known as Portsmouth Cycle Forum.

But also our Cycling UK national team was heavily involved. It's great to see what our subscriptions help to pay for. Being flat and a student city, Portsmouth is a big cycling community, and has pretty good cycle infrastructure (compared to Havant and most of Hampshire). But it also has a high death rate, so there's lots more to do.

More details at: www.cyclinguk.org/blog/watershed-moment-portsmouth-council-back-space-cycling . Well worth reading.

We need to hold them to it, and make sure it leads to real improvements in cycling, not just a spinning class 🙂

Press coverage:

• Petersfield Post
• Portsmouth News

Note that we get mentions in both articles and we were prominent at the event.