The development of cycling infrastructure in Oxfordshire has bumbled along for decades with zero budget, picking up scraps of funding here and there from developer contributions, and as add-ons to major schemes along the bus corridors.

But the winds of time they are a’changin, and a’blowin’ in the bicycle’s direction as money from central government is increasingly earmarked for walking and cycling. Indeed, the council has secured nearly £1 million to spend on making the Plain roundabout safer for cyclists.

The Plain has long been a bugbear for cyclists accessing the city from the east. Five busy roads connecting to this small roundabout have tended to make it difficult and dangerous.

The council is consulting at the moment on changes, and cyclists are invited to come and have their say at Cyclox’s public meeting “Plain Speaking – Designing a cycle-friendly roundabout in Oxford” this Thursday at 7.30pm at St Michael at the Northgate.

Council officers will be presenting the plans so far, and cycle campaigners adding their ideas into the mix. Council leader Ian Hudspeth’s new cabinet, and transport boss David Nimmo-Smith in particular, should be bidding for lots more cycling cash in future following a motion approved at a meeting of full council last month.

Falling towards the end of the holiday season, it passed under-reported and unsung which is a pity. The motion read: “Council notes that many Oxfordshire roads suffer from congestion, which causes serious delays and inflicts pollution on residents.

As one of the best and simplest ways to reduce congestion would be to encourage more cycling to replace car journeys where possible, also bringing health benefits to the cyclists, Council calls upon the Cabinet to support this aim of encouraging cycling and to consider the following (subject to sufficient finances or funding streams being available or identified): (a) that a high quality bid is submitted every time the government, the EU or other organisations make money available for cycling measures; (b) whether to require cycle-friendly measures to be incorporated into all new road schemes and new housing developments; (c) whether to draw up and consult on a new Cycling Strategy, to be appended to the LTP, which will work closely with partners (district councils, hospitals, the universities and others) and will have ambitious targets and timescales.”

This could prove a real coup, and the cycling community must keep its eyes wide open to ensure that high quality bids are submitted at every available opportunity. We also need to make sure that the two “whethers” become reality and are not buried and forgotten. Politically, the motion was significant in that it enjoyed cross-party support.

onyerbike@oxfordmail.co.uk