Cycle Counts
Request ID: FOI-1736-2021
Date published: 29 December 2020
You asked
Follow-on from IRV-031-2021 / FOI-1339-2021
I am sorry but I am most dissatisfied because in the government’s response to this petition, https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/552306, the claim has been made that: “The more people cycle and walk, the more road space is freed up for those who really need to drive.”
And in substantiating that statement, the DfT has said: “Increasing the number of people walking or cycling short journeys leads to a decrease in the number of vehicles on the carriageway thereby creating extra capacity. Furthermore, cycling and walking is more efficient in term of using space on the public highway (which comprises the footway, cycle lane and carriageway). This has been demonstrated by the East West and North South Cycle Superhighway corridors, shown to move five times as many people as a main carriageway lane compared to cars and move five per cent more people per hour than before the cycle lanes, which will increase as they attract more cyclists.”
To make such a statement, the data must be available.
Therefore, I am now asking you both for the data under the FOIA.
Furthermore, please also provide calculations that cover the whole 24 hours and not just peak times.
We answered
Our Ref: FOI-1736-2021
Thank you for your request received on 30 November 2020 asking for information about the cycling data used for the Transport for London’s Segregated Cycling Infrastructure Report on Cycle Superhighway (CSH) corridors.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act and our information access policy.
We do not hold the information you have requested. As previously advised, this data was originally extracted from the ODX by the Public Transport strategy team within TfL’s Surface Strategy & Outcome Planning, however this team was disbanded some time ago and therefore the extracted data that was used is no longer available. Additionally, the cycling data used only covered the peak hours. We do not hold the calculations for the wider 24 hour timeframe for these same reasons.
If you are considering submitting a further FOI request please think carefully about whether the request is essential at this current time, as answering FOI requests will require the use of limited resources and the attention of staff who could be supporting other essential activity. Where requests are made, please note that our response time may be impacted by the current situation.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.
Yours sincerely
Gemma Jacob
Senior FOI Case Officer
FOI Case Management Team
General Counsel
Transport for London
[email protected]
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