CYCLING: SAFETY + SUSTAINABILITY
THE CYCLING NETWORK IN MANCHESTER
MAP OF MANCHESTER CYCLING ROUTES
CYCLING ON SITE
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF SIDEWALKS: CONTACT
The Death and Life of Great American Cities, Jane Jacobs - Applying the theory of safety.
Through the humanities course this year I studied Vondelpark in Amsterdam, applying the theory of Jane Jacobs in 'The Death and Life of Great American Cities' to the nature of the park. One of her theories is the significance of sidewalks in bringing life to a city. She talks through this through three concepts, one of these is contact. Jacobs states ‘there is something everyone already knows: a well-used city street is apt to be a safe street. A deserted city street is apt to be unsafe.’ (Jacobs, 1961:44). Through this research I looked at the cycling nature of Vondelpark and how it attributed to life or death of the place. What fascinated me most was how well the park was used after nightfall by cyclists. Through more research I determined that Vondelpark is considered a safe place in Amsterdam with little crime. Applying this concept to Hulme, an aim in encouraging cycling on site would not only be to bring continued life during the day but to also make the site safer at night by cyclists using the circulation route as a main cycle route.
(Jacobs, J. (1961) The Death and Life of Great American Cities. New York: Random House, Inc)
In order to enhance circulation, encourage visitors and reduce on street parking there will be space created for cyclists to use the site well. Bicycle racks will be distributed across the site at several points to allow for parking at any point. There will also be an on site bike repair shop to encourage further to cycle to site. The map below displays the cycling routes around Manchester. Currently, Hulme is without a bike repair shop but does have cycle friendly routes around the ward. Hulme's close connection to the city and surrounding areas mean that accessing the site by bike would enhance custom and economy and also provide a sustainable solution in the long term to reduce cars near to site.
Stretford Rd is an on road cycling route with cycling facilities
The site is surrounded by cycle friendly routes. The streets which are not marked as routes are residental meaning that they are quieter and can be used easily by cyclists.