PEOPLE often complain about congestion in Oxford. Yet, there is an apparent lack of funds to implement real proposals to help alleviate some of the traffic congestion in the city and deal with a key cause of the issue – too many cars on the road.

This situation is avoidable, in part, if planning and development is perceived in a different light and used as a catalyst for improving access throughout the city by anything other than the car. Investment in cycle infrastructure is fundamental to this and significant development proposals in the city should help.

New River Retail has recently submitted amended plans for Templars Square, Cowley. Planning applications such as these provide the perfect opportunity to deliver well-considered cycle infrastructure.

However, New River Retail’s proposals do not provide one crumb of comfort to people who wish to travel by bicycle. It includes an advisory line of paint separating cyclists from cars and buses on Between Towns Road and this just doesn’t cut it.

Besides some of the practical points – potholes, paint wearing out, and illegally parked cars – ultimately, a line of paint will never change the perception of people who’d cycle if it appeared safer – the ‘latent cyclists.’

In addition, the current mini roundabout at Barns Road and Between Towns Road is unsafe for cyclists. Having been squeezed on the roundabout and nearly knocked off my bike on more than one occasion, I’d welcome any improvements to the layout. However, based on the latest plans this is another missed opportunity to make cycling safe.

Oxford will never be considered ‘world class’ unless it seeks to confront our dependency on private cars by securing infrastructure encouraging people to make journeys by alternative modes of transport. It must think BIG about how it can achieve this going forward. In the medium term proposals such as opening the Cowley Branch line for passenger travel are essential to confronting this issue, and in the longer term Oxford must prioritize proposals for a mass transport network such a tram system.

But what can be done in the meantime? At the very least, major development proposals across the city could help facilitate the system of Cycle Super Lanes and Cycle Premium Lanes as required by the Local Transport Plan.

It’s great that New River Retail is seeking to invest millions of pounds in part of the shopping centre, but I can’t help wondering when Oxford will get serious about giving precedence to cycling and walking when considering major new development proposals.

Local planning policy requires proposals to prioritize walking, cycling and public transport, and the Local Transport Plan seeks to secure ‘Cycle Super Routes’ or ‘Cycle Premium Routes’ along Between Towns Road and Barns Road. A painted advisory cycle line falls woefully short of the required standards.

If you are interested in finding out more about influencing the planning process to improve conditions for cycling, please come to the next Cyclox talk by Graham Smith, on Monday, May 15, at 7.30pm at St Michaels at the Northgate, Oxford. All welcome, entrance free.