B4.3.3 Designing for cyclists

All cycle facilities must be designed in accordance with Cycle infrastructure design (LTN 1/20) (Department for Transport), and be coherent, direct, safe, comfortable and attractive. The design of routes must also consider existing and potential use by equestrians from the outset. This must include providing appropriate levels of protection based on traffic volumes and vehicle speeds and refer to the Street Hierarchy (List 3).

Points of severance (due to busy roads, high volumes of traffic, railway lines or other potential barriers) within or surrounding a development site must be identified within the Site Appraisal Assessment  C1.1 and G1.1 as applicable). Where potential or significant barriers to cycling have been identified, appropriate cycle crossing points must be provided.

Cycle routes must be designed and maintained to provide a smooth, continuous, and predictable surface. The following conditions are considered unacceptable on cycling surfaces and must be avoided:

• sharp gradients exceeding 12.5%

• non-cycle-friendly ironworks, such as poorly aligned or slippery inspection covers

• raised or sunken gullies and utility covers

• loose or uneven surfaces

• surfaces that present a slip hazard, particularly in wet or icy conditions

Applications should seek to provide greater cycle parking provision than the minimum (20-30% uplift) as outlined in District-Wide Cycle and Other Parking Standards (Appendix 7).

Development proposals should ensure that cyclists can maintain a minimum lateral clearance of 1 metre from kerbside activities, including parked vehicles, loading areas, and other obstructions along the street.

Development proposals should remove potential conflicts between cyclists, buses, and general traffic. They should also ensure that bus stops are carefully located and designed to safeguard vulnerable passengers (whether waiting, boarding, or alighting) from possible conflicts with cyclists.