Cycle network and route planning guide

The cycle network planning process

Print version: Chapter 11: Prioritisation (PDF, 302 KB, 4 pages)

Prioritisation

PRIORITISE CYCLE ROUTE DEVELOPMENT
Prepare a programme of projects for detailed investigation, design and implementation.

11.1 Introduction

Prioritising cycle route network implementation is more an art than a science.

This chapter discusses possible criteria for the order in which the network will be developed:

• LOS/cycle review.
• Existing usage numbers.
• Crash records.
• Blockage removal.
• Demonstrable achievement.
• Area consolidation.
• Quality demonstration projects.

11.2 Level of service/cycle review

Description

Priority could be assigned to treating sections of routes that have the worst LOS, or to projects which provide the most LOS improvement.

See section 9.5.

Advantages

See section 9.5.

Disadvantages

See section 9.5.

The approach does not take demand or cost into account, although this could be overcome, for example, by assessing the cost per LOS improvement per number of cyclists who will benefit.

11.3 Usage numbers

Description

This approach assigns priorities to existing routes with the most cyclists, which can be based on counts at peak times.

Advantages

It is sound business practice to retain existing customers before seeking to attract new ones. Observing cyclists’ preferred routes tends to be a sounder measure of their attractiveness than theoretical models.

Disadvantages

This approach does not consider:

• demand suppressed by the traffic dangers, physical difficulties or personal safety concerns that most affect more timid cyclists
• route elements that do not yet exist, such as a path or bridge yet to be constructed.

11.4 Crash records

Description

This method assigns priorities according to the crash cost savings that can be achieved.

Advantages

Crash data and costs are readily available (see section 7.4.2) and will give some indication of potential dangers.

Disadvantages

Cyclist crash data suffers from some inadequacies. See section 7.4.2.

Cycle usage levels, suppressed demand and the nature of hazards must also be considered, as a low-crash cost could reflect low usage, serious hazards deterring cycle use or a high level of cyclist safety.

11.5 Blockage removal

Description

Priority is assigned to projects where removing a blockage would achieve the greatest increase in cyclist numbers or other cyclist benefits.

Blockages could be due to road or traffic danger (such as a pinch point or large roundabout), physical factors (such as access to a destination across an unbridged gully), or personal safety concerns (such as a secluded path or underpass).

Advantage

This approach is particularly useful in relatively cycle-friendly situations where there is established demand on both

Disadvantage

It can be difficult to predict cycle usage increases that would result from removing individual blockages.

11.6 Easiest or cheapest first

Description

The easiest or cheapest elements in a programme are given priority.

Advantages

A simple achievement measure, such as the total length of a cycle route meeting a certain LOS, gives an impression of achievement. This is useful when the value of a cycle route programme is questioned.

Disadvantages

The easiest or cheapest elements are not always the most needed. The importance of the different elements also needs to be considered.

There is a risk that such a short-term approach will lead to lower-quality outcomes in the longer term.

11.7 Quality demonstration projects

Description

Priority is given to flagship projects that showcase attractive, high-quality facilities that others will want to emulate in their own communities.

Advantage

This can build community support for providing quality facilities of which they can be proud.

Disadvantage

It may be expensive and use up all the budget.

11.8 Area consolidation

Description

This gives priority to spreading cycle provision across a substantial area. Once a consistently high cyclist LOS has been consolidated in one discrete area, provision is spread to another.

Advantages

Consolidation may increase cycling and be a more clearly demonstrable achievement. If the whole area has achieved a satisfactory standard, cycling promotion can take place without undue concerns about an unsafe environment for cycling.

Disadvantage

A focus on a single area over several years may lead to charges of inequitable treatment in relation to areas that do not enjoy this investment.

11.9 Recommendations

Several criteria should be used together.

The cycle review or LOS criteria could usefully be combined with cycling usage data and cross-compared with crash data and project costs. Together, these may indicate a programme focus on a particular geographical area, bringing forward other lower-ranked projects and removing identified blockages. This treatment could then be repeated for the next highest-ranked area, and so on.

This approach should not, however, neglect the value of some demonstrable achievement through implementing easy or cheap network elements or some quality flagship projects. Similarly, a focus on a particular area should not neglect particularly strong needs identified elsewhere.

During implementation, it may be useful to advance a lower-ranked cycling project and combine it with the timing of a mainstream project. See section 12.2.1.

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Page created: 1 October 2004