Maidstone Cycle Campaign Forum
Working to improve cycling conditions and encourage people to cycle for transport and as part of a healthy lifestyle
February 2023 Update
Highway Code Revisions
National Highways and Transport Survey 2022/23
National Highways and Transport Survey 2022/23
The Department for Transport consultation on the proposed changes concluded with proposed changes seeking to improve safety for more vulnerable users: pedestrians, particularly children, older adults and disabled people, horse riders…and cyclists.
Key changes in the new Highway Code courtesy of Cycling UK include:
- The introduction of the 'Hierarchy of Users' or ‘Hierarchy of Responsibility’, recognising that road users who pose greater risks to others ought to have a higher level of responsibility.
- Simplification of the rules relating to junctions where there aren’t any traffic signals, to make junctions safer and address ‘left-hook’ collision.
- New rules to tackle dangerous overtaking and ‘close passes’, with a guideline minimum safe passing distance of 1.5m.
- Clearer guidance on looking before opening your car door, including the ’Dutch Reach’ technique, to help prevent ‘car-dooring’
- These are just some of around 50 Highway Code changes.
National Highways and Transport Survey 2022/23
National Highways and Transport Survey 2022/23
National Highways and Transport Survey 2022/23
We have the opportunity to have our say, individually, on what we think of transport and highways services in Kent as part of a national survey which closes on the 28th February.
There are six independent surveys in total – you can take part in one or all of them. Each survey should only take a few minutes of your time. They are asking for views on:
- accessibility
- highways maintenance
- public transport
- road safety
- tackling congestion
- walking and cycling
Full details and access to the survey is through this link:
https://letstalk.kent.gov.uk/national-highways-and-transport-2022-23
Vision Zero
National Highways and Transport Survey 2022/23
20 mph Speed Limits - a major contribution to road safety
This is a vision from KCC to have zero fatalities and serious injuries on Kent roads by 2050 so no problem with the forum 100% supporting this objective. However there is lots of detail around how this is done. We have written a comprehensive input for the consultation which can be seen on our Website and Facebook page.
The forum’s message - another nice plan, but we need the active travel infrastructure and road safety initiatives to be delivered in practice.
Look at MCCF's Response
20 mph Speed Limits - a major contribution to road safety
20 mph Speed Limits - a major contribution to road safety
All new residential developments in Kent now have a design speed of 20mph but there is still discussion on whether these roads should also have an enforced speed limit of 20mph. Trials are underway in Faversham and Tonbridge. This is an active debate at the moment so well worth everybody writing to KCC and MBC councillors with views and supporting 20mph.
Our Priorities
Our Priorities
The Forum has two objectives:
1 Encourage infrastructure for cycling specifically but Active Travel in general
2 Encourage more people to use their bikes for transport
We see the first as an enabler for the second which we would like to spend more time on.