Cycling

Chaper 5 – Topic Policies

Section C – Transport

TRA6 Cycling (2016 Draft / 2017 Main Changes)

The Council is committed to increasing cycle usage in the borough as a sustainable means of transport that also contributes to healthier lifestyles.

Ashford has a well developed network of cycleways that run through the town that have been delivered over recent years many of which link to the quiet rural lanes around the town and in the rest of the borough that are suitable for cycling. In addition, sections of off-road cycleway have been provided in the rural area, notably at Godmersham to Chilham and in Tenterden. Recent monitoring indicates that the use of the routes for cycling in the Ashford urban area has increased significantly, particularly as a means to access the domestic and international railway stations.

The network has been delivered principally via the following means:

• National Cycle Route 18 has been designated and runs through the urban area and links with the wider county wide strategic cycleway network and National Cycle Route 17 (the Pilgrims Way Cycle Trail) provides a strategic link to Eureka Park.
• The green corridor network in the urban area provides a comprehensive, primarily riverside, set of cycleway routes that converge in the town centre and provide a direct access to the railway stations. The long-standing green corridor policy has helped to deliver improvements to the cycleway network through the delivery of specific green corridor projects and via the requirement that developments adjoining the green corridor being required to make a contribution to improvements within the green corridor;
• The Council’s Cycling Strategy [pdf 10MB] was approved in 2011 and sets out a series of network improvements projects to be delivered over the lifetime of the Strategy. the Council is committed to reviewing and revising that Strategy;
• New developments have been required to deliver cycleways within the development areas and to make links to the wider network in the town;
• Substantial improved cycle parking provision has been provided at the Ashford domestic railway station

KCC recently consulted on its Active Travel Plan, which sought to promote journeys by bicycle Kent along hospitable routes, noting the potential of these routes to stimulate journeys by bicycle as opposed to by the private car, and for leisure uses, promoting Active Travel. ABC supports this approach and any opportunities to enhance and regularise cycle connections.

Policy TRA6 – Provision for Cycling

The Council will seek to improve conditions for cyclists through the following measures:-

• Promoting and developing a Borough-wide network of cycle routes;
• Developments should, where opportunities arise, include safe, convenient and attractively designed cycle routes, including, where possible, connection to the Borough-wide cycle network.
• Promoting and providing cycle parking facilities in town centres, at railway stations and at major public buildings, and requiring new development to provide cycle parking facilities in agreement with the Council;
• Taking opportunities to consider active travel when designing new routes and establishing connections with existing routes, encouraging journeys by bicycle

Cycle Parking shall be provided at a minimum as per the follow: