Colchester
A large self-contained town with a rural hinterland of villages, currently has a modest level of cycling, but its Cycling Town team aims to create an improved town with cycling at its heart and facilities of European quality.
Almost seven out of 10 residents work in Colchester itself, and for those working further afield, there are three railway stations across the town. Although Colchester has an existing cycle network of on-road facilities, quiet streets and dedicated paths, it is incomplete, with some barriers to the town centre and other destinations. The programme’s priorities include improving cycle access to the town’s railway stations (Colchester North Station, Colchester Town and The Hythe), the town centre, and key destinations such as the University, Colchester Institute, regeneration areas, and the General Hospital.
For the first year, infrastructure improvements have concentrated on upgrading existing routes in the northern area of Colchester, rejuvenating routes between Highwoods and the town centre and North Station, to allow complete uninterrupted journeys by bike. These routes will be extensively marketed and promoted to demonstrate what can be achieved elsewhere in the town. Additionally, designs for facilities which complete broken routes will be developed.
Colchester will introduce Bikeability training and implement a range of measures designed to attract new people, including commuters, students, families and visitors, to cycling. Years two and three will include continuing the Smarter Choices programmes, bringing other radial routes up to a quality standard, and introducing missing facilities, particularly in the town centre and connecting to the railway stations.
