Report of the Strategic Director Growth and Development

This report provides a summary of progress on delivery of the aspirations and commitments of the Manchester Active Travel Strategy and Investment Plan.

The Committee considered the report of the Strategic Director, Growth and Development that provided a summary of progress on delivery of the aspirations and commitments of the Manchester Active Travel Strategy and Investment Plan.

Key points and themes in the report included:

·       Providing an introduction and background;

·       Progress update with a summary of schemes delivered to date;

·       A summary of other upcoming schemes; and

·       Consideration of E-Mobility (Electromobility, also known as e-mobility is the principle of using electric propulsion for a wide range of transportation types).

Some of the key points that arose from the Committee’s discussions were:

·       Welcoming the report and the progress reported to date;

·       What were the costs associated with delivering School Streets;

·       Were the 7 Schools Streets now permanent;

·       Were local volunteer and community groups engaged with to increase capacity to deliver School Streets schemes;

·       The potential for the displacement of traffic to neighbouring streets following the introduction of School Streets;

·       Did the strategy have the capacity to adapt to the developing city and to respond to the needs of different users;

·       What was the timescale for the implementation of moving traffic offences;

·       Supporting the reduction of the default speed limit in the city to 20mph and what were the timescales for this, noting that slower vehicles gave cyclists increased confidence when moving around the city;

·       The issue of irresponsible pavement parking and the barriers this caused to people using the footpaths;

·       The increased irresponsible and at times dangerous use of e-bikes, particularly those associated with food delivery services;

·       Information was sought on the Wythenshawe Active Travel Study; and

·       What learning had been obtained for the Parsonage Road Safer Streets scheme.

The Active Travel Lead, Infrastructure and Environment said that the pilot funding to deliver the 7 School Streets schemes had paid for Experimental Traffic Regulation Orders, training for volunteer marshals and associated materials. He commented that local interested groups were engaged on this subject to increase capacity to deliver the schemes. He said that at this stage they were not permanent.

The Active Travel Lead, Infrastructure and Environment said that the strategy provided a framework to articulate the standards of provision in relation to active travel and that this was taken into consideration in all strategic regeneration frameworks and planning. The Strategic Director, Growth and Development commented that the Manchester Active Travel Strategy had been developed to articulate the coherent approach and prioritise adopted across the city and this supported funding bids to deliver schemes. She further commented that the strategy was reviewed and would be refreshed in the future to reflect the strategic infrastructure planning across the city.

The Head of Network Management said that 7 School Streets schemes had been piloted, and that this pilot would be evaluated. He said that consideration would be given as to appropriate locations for any future schemes, including using new Moving Traffic Offences powers to enforce School Streets measures. He noted that there were challenges associated with such schemes, such as creating an exemption list of number plates to ensure that legitimate drivers were not penalised. The Active Travel Lead, Infrastructure and Environment addressed the issue of displaced traffic and said that he would raise this with the project team, adding that schools were required to collate data in relation to active travel as part of the pilot. He said that the intention of the pilot was to influence behaviour change and not displace car parking.

The Active Travel Lead, Infrastructure and Environment said that strategy articulated the commitment to reduce the default speed limit in the city to 20mph, and also reduce 40mph speed limits to 30mph. He said that this was key priority and work on this was being progressed and Members would be briefed on this at the appropriate time.

The Executive Member for Clean Air, Environment and Transport stated that pavement parking was a significant issue, adding that the roads in Manchester were never built to accommodate the number of vehicles that existed across the city. She said that she continued to work with local MPs to raise this issue with the government so as to seek a workable solution and appropriate enforcement powers. She said that options for target hardening campaigns in hotspots could be considered to engage and educate drivers on the issue. The Strategic Director, Growth and Development stated that pavement parking had a detrimental impact on the delivery of active travel schemes. The Head of Network Management acknowledged the comments made by a Member of her experience of visiting a European city and their response to pavement parking by having segregated lanes on some pavements to facilitate on street car parking. He said that consideration would be given to all viable solutions, however noted that damage to the footpath network would need to carefully be considered in any decision.

The Strategic Director, Growth and Development said that the issue of e-bikes was understood, and discussions were ongoing at a GMCA level to address this. She suggested that a report that detailed the powers available to protect pedestrians and other highway users be submitted at an appropriate time. 

The Active Travel Lead, Infrastructure and Environment said that the aim of the Wythenshawe Active Travel Study was to develop an understanding of volume and demand to inform the development of long-term network of schemes. He said this study and evaluation would create the business case to support the bidding for funding to deliver a pipeline of projects. He said all of this would be subject to the usual consultation exercise will all relevant stakeholders. He commented that he was happy to meet with local Members to discuss this in further detail if required. The Executive Member for Clean Air, Environment and Transport added that there was a significant redevelopment programme planned for Wythenshawe and this work complimented this wider development programme. She added that the consultation on the Parsonage Road Safer Streets scheme was ongoing and the lessons from this would be reflected upon.

Decision

To note the report.