UNIVERSITY CYCLISTS' CYCLING SHOPPING LIST 

9th September 2005
(extended slightly 12th September 2007)
(extended 19th November 2007 to include Improvements for Manchester
 cyclists list from Michael Daw's compilation)

1. The re-instatement to cyclists of the path under the Mancunian
   Way. The path is the safest way between Piccadilly/campuses.

2. Separate the bus and bike lanes on Oxford Road --- buses and bikes
   don't mix well in the same space.

3. Decent cycle routes across campus.  These should be clearly marked,
   be safe (as is reasonably possible) and very importantly follow
   obvious, direct/quick routes.

4.  On-campus facilities:
   - Secure cycle storage
     * near to buildings of work
     * bike lockers?
     * covered racks?
     * swipe-card accessed bike sheds near building entrances?
     * inside building: large hooks mounted high on corridor walls?
   - open and maintain bike-park facilities already present,
     e.g. cover racks; unlock the Arts Building bike park; clean up
     and weatherproof the UMIST bike shed
   - showers
   - changing rooms 
   - cloak/drying rooms in buildings where wet gear can be dried out
     during the day 
   - lockers to store bike gear
   - *NEW* Easy access to buildings, e.g. not being blocked by
     barriers for cars
5. Safe cycle routes to work:
   - separate cycle lanes from A to B (not petering out in a dangerous way)
   - marked and enforced cycle lanes on roads (without parked cars)
     e.g. not the bizarre markings outside The Palace Theatre on Oxford Street
   - direct, useful routes
   - better maintenance
   - reduce traffic
   - Specific routes:
     * In-Campus
     * between VUM and UMIST
     * Upper Brooke Street
     * Oxford Road/Wilmslow Road --- pedestrianise? separate bike
       lane?
   - what about more + better green space?

6. Incentives to non-cyclists:
  - better, prominent information, e.g. single accessible forum;
    website; etc
  - mileage allowance
  - insurance
  - tax relief for buying bikes
  - University involvement in more proactive events encouraging
    non-cyclists to switch, e.g. closing Oxford Road.
  - University to actively promote itself as cycle-friendly
  - more investment, e.g. especially when compared to that of
    car-parks

7. *New* Integration of public transport and bikes, e.g. bike/train combinations
----------------------------------------------------------------------

12th September 2007 (some of these might overlap with the above)

8. Transparent co-ordination of HEP cycling groups:
   - HEP cycling group
   - University of Manchester BUG
   - MMU BUG
   so that there is a viable and efficient mechanism for two-way
   communication and discussion

   e.g. have a single mailing list? single forum?

9. Easily obtainable cycling-related information:
  - website
  - publicize cycling mailing lists to all staff
  - publication of documentation: e.g. 
    * Two-Wheeled Strategy
    * University Green Travel document
    * Meeting minutes

10. Research and publication of accurate current cycling numbers
    across staff; PG; UG students

    Establishing and publication of target cycling numbers

11. Establishment of a programme of regular effective and proactive
    promotion and incentives for cycling:
 
   - salary sacrifice
   - proactive bike-to-work activities
   - commuter challenge

   Publicity for results

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Improvements for Manchester Cyclists (compiled by Michael Daw,
2007/11/19)

Cycling improvements
====================

Traffic light filters for cyclists when safe - emphasis on giving
cyclists priority and a realisation that cyclists don't take up the
space of cars.

There are many junctions when lights could be green for cyclists when
they're red for cars. If this was implemented widely, then I think I'd
also like to see a crackdown on cyclists who jump red lights, which
seems to be pretty ubiquitous these days. At the moment, though,
cyclists are taking the law into their own hands because they feel
unconsidered (I think).

Physically separated cycle lanes with kerbs. These put a stop to all
those car drivers who ignore cycle lanes and would make cyclists feel
a lot safer.

These need to be wide enough to allow overtaking by other cyclists and
they need to be easy to get into/out of. People responded that the
Fallowfield loop is great, but it's going in the wrong direction
(i.e. not into/out of town).

Emphasis on compulsory cycle lanes (with solid white line) accompanied
by double-yellows (because most people, including traffic wardens and
police, seem to think cars can park in them) rather than optional
cycle lanes, which seem like a waste of green paint.

A rethink on buses and cyclists sharing lanes. This is just plain
frightening. Many bus/cycle lanes seem to be about the width of a
bus. Guess who ends up giving way?! Why can't cyclists retain their
own portion of the lane? (Probable reason = you'd have to take space
away from motorists!) Also, it would greatly improve safety if more
bus stops had an actual bay so while the bus is stopping that cyclist
could go past it rather than having to go around it (potentially at
the same time as a car doing the same).

I think it is also worth considering the mixing of pedestrians and
cyclists - other countries seem to do it without too much trouble
(Netherlands for instance). It seems to me it is a much safer
option. So, perhaps the potential should be explored especially
considering that it is not that novel! (Note that not everyone on the
list thought this was a good idea.)