Collisions involving cyclists are decreasing in North Tyneside – at the same time as more people are using a bike to get around the borough.
That’s among the findings within North Tyneside Council’s Transport Strategy Annual Report for 2021-22, which was presented to Cabinet last night.
The report states that the number of casualties involving someone cycling has shown a generally decreasing trend since 2017, the year when the Transport Strategy was first adopted. The casualty figure decreased by 30 per cent in 2021 to 33, which is the lowest figure since the local authority started producing its annual report on the strategy.
Meanwhile, cycling in the borough has increased by more than 60 per cent over four years - it is 40 per cent ahead of the target growth outlined in 2018’s Cycling Strategy.
Cllr Sandra Graham, Cabinet Member for the Environment, said: “The growth in cycling is one North Tyneside’s big success stories. Riding a bike is a healthy, low carbon, affordable and convenient way to travel for many of our residents.
“We’re proud of the work we’ve done so far to make it easier for people get around the borough by bike and are excited about what’s to come, as we work towards our aspiration of making the borough carbon net-zero by 2030.
“Our latest Transport Strategy Annual Report helps set out some of this story as well as our progress more generally in delivering on our vision for transport in the borough.”
The Council has been successful in obtaining significant external funding to deliver improvements to cycling routes in the borough. This includes works along the A189 Salters’ Lane, which were completed in 2019, and a current scheme to provide for cyclists along the A191 New York Bypass and Rake Lane.
Future schemes include improving cycling links to Metro stations as well as introducing a permanent, segregated cycle route along the coast.
The Council also delivers national standard Bikeability cycle training to school children and promotes healthy and active travel through its Go Smarter project.
And the Summer of Cycling aims to encourage people of all ages to get on their bike: please see the Active North Tyneside web page for details.
The Transport Strategy Annual Report 2021-22 also sets out how the local authority continues to invest in other parts of the highway network and in local road safety and network management schemes.
The Highways service is delivered for North Tyneside Council by its partner Capita.
