Free coffee for cyclists? Council to reward cycling journeys with app offering free treats, discounted food and days out

THIS, THIS, THIS and THIS.

Having been an avid cyclist for a number of years and pretty robust in the emotional stakes, I was nearly KSI'd by a arctic/trailer combo wheich, quite frankly, shook me like no previous "near misses" I've had. (and I have been involved in some scary pastimes and sports). This has put me off riding a bike for nearly a year and still gives me the shakes when I recall the incident. If only we could rely on a safe infrastructure, either designed for the the pedallist, or have more consideration on the roads, then the number of active travellers will increase, along with the demand for the means to do so.

But why do the prongs always seem to start with stuff that has not been shown to be the most effective in actually improving rates of cycling or the perception of safety? And indeed rarely include anything which might trouble the motorist? ("Harm minimization" I understand, but note that some of the other "sustainable" measures being funded are in fact directly to benefit the (electric) motorists! )

Cyclists taking less time off work is only valuable to firms if they have their staff actually cycling to work. For most that's going to be a few percent or less!

Much as I applaud this tackling cycle theft would be a game changer for many
So would a change from the police actively working against traffic law enforcement, cyclist safety and active travel in general

Quite. I'm going to assume that the budget isn't there for the really useful stuff, like new safe infrastructure, but pockets of cash could have gone on all sorts of things that are the sticking point for at least some people. And getting law enforcement to change their mindset shouldn't be expensive at all.

I don't know the local circumstances and what is missing (perhaps all of it), but working with local shops to install decent cycle parking, or providing funding for free/cheap basic bike checks/servicing/classes to encourage people to dust down bikes at the back of the garage, along with some basic bike maintenance classes. 

getting law enforcement to change their mindset shouldn't be expensive at all

I think we all fully understand that the police can't be everywhere (or even in a few places) checking for traffic law offences, but when we do all the work for them it is perverse for them to be so forgiving of motorists at a time of incessant rabble-pleasing 'cyclists go through red lights' rubbish from the Torygraph and its hyper-junk fellows, and the consequent police anti-cyclist special operations.  This is Polestar 2 OV74 URX

https://upride.cc/incident/ov74urx_polestar_redlightpass/

Below is Kia Sportage PL24 VSX doing the same thing

It's so frustrating, and as you say, there is the potential for the police to get a lot of bang for their buck by taking advantage of the work done by cyclists and others with cameras. Moreso if there is a decent portal and good guidance and policies in place to encourage the most effective submissions. Most of the work could be done by a suitably trained member of the admin team.

Amongst other things, I blame bad faith takes by parts of the media and weak political leadership. There's the whole 'war on cars thing', but also the choice on how to spend money. Yes, having any member of staff reviewing tapes, which at some point I'm sure will need to include a police officer, is in some areas an additional pressure on resources. And here in Scotland where we don't even have a portal, there is an obsession with counting the number of 'front line police', which I suspect happens elsewhere too. The consequence is that they have got rid of a lot of admin and other support staff, and use trained officers to fill that gap. It's not a good use of their time or our money, but it does let politicians claim a higher number of officers without having to spend the proper amount of money.

To me, refusing to use a portal, or taking submissions of sufficient quality seriously, is the waste of money, and a dereliction of duty. 

there is the potential for the police to get a lot of bang for their buck by taking advantage of the work done by cyclists and others with cameras

Except where you have to endure the wrong type of police whose daily 'Two Minute Hate' is directed against people who waste police time by reporting offences. This is PK17 XHR- no MOT for 9 months, first reported 30.9.24

jamesha100 wrote:

Much as I applaud this tackling cycle theft would be a game changer for many.

I've no doubt theft is a problem but it's not the issue that the majority of people cite when asked why they don't cycle (or cycle more).

Lots of useful information in this article from 12 months ago:

https://road.cc/content/news/seven-out-ten-people-say-they-never-ride-bi...

To most of us who regularly visit road.cc it is obvious that most people won't change their habits unless their is a very clear incentive.

Free hot drinks etc and even secure bike parking aren't really going to be anywhere near enough for significant modal shift. A smartphone app won't do it and the council will probably knock this 'incentive' scheme on the head in a year or so when the budget is squeezed and a cycle-hating councillor starts moaning about how cyclists are "indulged" or that it the scheme is "wasted money". We've seen it all a hundred time before.

Simon E wrote:

To most of us who regularly visit road.cc it is obvious that most people won't change their habits unless their is a very clear incentive.

Amen (sadly).

All the evidence (quite a lot now) shows that it is possible - but very hard - to shift people away from (some) driving. Takes a raft of joined-up measures, ultimately offering alternatives to driving which are at least as attractive (and changes to government, politics, culture and built environment to support that long term). So both negative measures (driving convenience and capacity must be reduced) as well so strong positive measures (favoring active travel, public transport etc.)

But ... a happy (and hopeful? ) new year!

theyll spend the near half a million budget on the app (that in itself is a big red flag) and it will be spent,it will run for two years, get cited in lots of reports the council produce about sustainability, and then quietly be forgotten, having not changed modal share one fraction

how long has Love to Ride, which is essentially what WYCA are trying to set up, been running for now ? 5 or more years. has it achieved anything ? clearly not because a WYCA havent gone oh we just need to use this pre-existing setup for what we want to do, we'll tender for our own.

.

Eh? Is that the "City Region *Sustainable* Travel Settlement"? I know this is shouting into the void. And probably quite a few people would be keen to spend 100% of this funding on a new roundabout or two or filling pot holes ... But what you're saying is out of only 1/5 of the "sustainable" schemes which actually have "direct links to active travel" * one is ... an app?

Do I have you right?

EDIT - for those who want to do the reading the overall CRSTS info is here (remember councils you can still get your roadbuilding and pothole filling money also - AND separate bus money!), indicative money allocations in 2023 here.  List of West Yorkshire combine authority schemes here.  Lots on the buses, some on charging points for cars.  Hopefully someone can summarise all that and set it beside allocations for motoring and active travel specifically.

* As opposed to sustainable driving, sustainable ICE buses etc? And yes, I know this is in fact a term being used entirely seriously in some places... And of course in the medium term we will need a "strategic" fund to try to restore some public transport capacity as "a bit more sustainable (or at least more efficient / can create nicer places) than just more driving".  We need far more support for active travel AND much better public transport locally and nationally AND motor traffic reduction measures AND more effective road policing ... etc