The document discusses Highways England's methods for prioritizing locations for improved cycling facilities on the Strategic Road Network. ArcGIS was used to analyze connectivity, economic, and safety data to score and rank potential scheme locations. This included analyzing population within 2.5km, deprivation levels, distance from public transport, accident rates, and traffic levels. The prioritization process has led to £100 million being allocated over 5 years to implement 200 new cycling facilities and crossings to help cyclists.

1. Cycling prioritisation
on the Strategic Road Network
Esri Conference 19 May 2015
Bruce McDaniel
Highways England

2. Aims and objectives
 Delegates will see:
– the methods used to prioritise suggested
locations for improved cyclist facilities
– how ArcGIS played a fundamental role in this
process
– some of the ArcGIS techniques used to
provide outputs

3. Background information
 We are keen that our network does not
present a barrier to cyclists
 In 2012 we adopted a new approach for
the provision of cycling facilities on our
roads
 We liaised with British Cycling, CTC and
Sustrans to identify locations where we
can make cyclists’ lives easier

4. Dangerous junctions…

5. …busy roads…

6. …overgrown cycle paths

7. Using data to prioritise locations
 Connectivity:
– population within 2.5km
– mean number of services over an hour distant
by walking/ public transport
– % mean population more than a mile away
from bus/ rail
– traffic flows within 100m

8. Using data to prioritise locations
 Economic:
– jobs within 2.5km
– % population within deprived Super Output
Area
 Safety:
– Killed and Seriously Injured (KSI)
– slight injuries

9. Using data to prioritise locations
Value Score Value Score Value Score Value Score Value Score Value Score Value Score Value Score
Scheme58 99,733 3 14 2 0.833 3 54,802 2 2.5 29,288 3 0.604 3 1.5 8 3 38 2 1.25 5.25 1
Scheme71 63,769 3 28 3 0 1 30,234 2 2.25 49,370 3 0.609 3 1.5 4 2 54 3 1.25 5 2
Scheme51 66,085 3 20 3 0 1 55,453 3 2.5 25,161 3 0.528 2 1.25 3 1 43 3 1 4.75 3
Scheme60 91,508 3 18 3 0.704 3 54,802 2 2.75 21,598 2 0.613 3 1.25 1 1 40 2 0.75 4.75 3
Scheme1 63,776 3 19 3 0 1 39,178 2 2.25 16,812 2 0.671 3 1.25 2 1 59 3 1 4.5 5
Scheme2 48,945 3 15 2 0 1 20,499 2 2 12,322 2 0.618 3 1.25 7 2 54 3 1.25 4.5 5
Scheme8 42,584 3 14 2 0.004 2 54,802 2 2.25 16,972 2 0.709 3 1.25 10 3 7 1 1 4.5 5
Scheme26 28,029 2 25 3 0.004 2 17,758 1 2 13,756 2 0.675 3 1.25 7 2 42 3 1.25 4.5 5
Scheme49 71,977 3 24 3 0 1 39,178 2 2.25 18,491 2 0.678 3 1.25 6 2 28 2 1 4.5 5
Scheme52 70,495 3 25 3 0 1 55,453 3 2.5 30,744 3 0.505 1 1 3 1 47 3 1 4.5 5
Scheme68 52,914 3 19 3 0 1 20,499 2 2.25 14,168 2 0.611 3 1.25 3 1 58 3 1 4.5 5
Scheme3 77,328 3 23 3 0 1 18,194 2 2.25 18,787 2 0.682 3 1.25 7 2 19 1 0.75 4.25 12
Scheme9 55,717 3 21 3 0 1 7,016 1 2 19,541 2 0.633 3 1.25 8 3 15 1 1 4.25 12
Scheme15 23,655 2 25 3 0 1 20,912 2 2 15,799 2 0.493 1 0.75 11 3 62 3 1.5 4.25 12
Scheme27 42,378 3 13 2 0 1 20,499 2 2 10,593 2 0.621 3 1.25 11 3 9 1 1 4.25 12
Scheme61 32,081 2 2 1 0.013 2 20,006 2 1.75 11,887 2 0.634 3 1.25 7 2 48 3 1.25 4.25 12
Scheme5 52,197 3 10 2 0 1 17,891 1 1.75 14,786 2 0.559 2 1 9 3 34 2 1.25 4 17
Scheme Name
TOTAL
SCORE
TOTAL
SCORE
TOTAL
SCORE
RANK
ORDER
Fatal and
serious
accidents
Slight
accidents
Traffic flows
within 100m
ALL
SCORES
Population
within 2.5km
% Population
within
deprived SOA
% Mean
population
more than a
mile away
from Bus/Rail
Mean no. of
services over
an hour distant
by walking/PT
Jobs within
2.5km [BRES
DATA]
Connectivity Economy Safety

10. ArcGIS examples
 Safety: cyclist casualties within 2.5km of
each proposed location
 Connectivity: population within 2.5 km of
each proposed location
 Connectivity: percentage of population
more than a mile away from bus or rail

11. Outcome
 Highways England now has a rolling
programme of improving facilities for
cyclists
 £100 million ring-fenced fund dedicated to
improve the network for cyclists and
pedestrians
 200 new cycling facilities and crossings
over the next five years to help cyclists on
the strategic road network

12. Thank you

13. Links to data - Connectivity
 population within 2.5km:
– OA shapefile (no population values): ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-
method/geography/products/census/spatial/2011/index.html ‘Full
resolution, clipped to the coastline’
– OA population values (join to shapefile):
http://www.nomisweb.co.uk/census/2011/qs102ew (Table QS102EW -
choose ‘2011 output areas’ – format data to ‘Include area codes’)
 mean number of services over an hour distant by walking/ public
transport
– http://data.gov.uk/dataset/accessibility-destination-datasets
 % mean population more than a mile away from bus/ rail
– https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-public-transport-
access-node-schema
 traffic flows within 100m
– http://www.dft.gov.uk/traffic-counts/download.php

14. Links to data - Economic
 Both categories use data published on Nomis
(official labour market statistics):
– jobs within 2.5km:
https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/query/select/getdata
setbytheme.asp?theme=27 > Business Register
and Employment Survey/ Annual Business
Enquiry > business register and employment
survey (authorisation required)
– population within deprived Super Output Area:
http://www.nomisweb.co.uk/census/2011/qs119e
w (Table QS119EW)

15. Links to data - Safety
 Validated Stats 19 road safety data:
http://data.gov.uk/dataset/road-accidents-
safety-data - tables:
– Road Safety – Accidents [year];
– Road Safety – Casualties [year];
– Road Safety – Vehicles [year]
– Road Accidents and Safety Data Guide

16. Contact details
Bruce McDaniel
Highways England
Piccadilly Gate
Store Street
Manchester
M1 2WD
bruce.mcdaniel@highwaysengland.co.uk