Mini-Holland

Consultation, engagement and involvement, continued
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We will work to engage the business community, meeting proprietors
face-to-face and discussing issues and concerns.
Most businesses will be concerned with the impact of these
changes fearing that it will detract customers as there is no/reduced
parking and making it difficult to receive deliveries. By talking
through these issues we can reassure and educate businesses
of the benefits that will come with the mini Holland improvements.
We also expect that in the wake of these cycle improvements a
number of green initiatives will set up and offer pedal power deliveries.
The largest employer in the borough is the council, we would like
our employees to set the example to the rest of the borough and
get on their bikes. We will develop our green travel plan, advertise
the ‘Cycle to work scheme’ encouraging those without bikes to
join in, increase our fleet office pool bikes and encourage all site
visits to be done by bike. We will increase or cycle parking for staff
as well as for visitors.
We will also raise awareness of the wide range of opportunities
available to businesses that will come along with the mini
Holland programme but also those already available from the
council, Transport for London and national initiatives.
Shopping and cycling
There is a general misconception that kerbside space should be
prioritised for car parking in order to support local shops and
high streets. Whilst some shops such as those that sell bulky
items need some parking provision and those with mobility
issues need space to park close to shops and businesses there
is a wealth of evidence to show that people who walk, cycle or
use public transport spend more money locally.
We will carry out extensive shopping surveys to gain a greater
understanding of our shoppers and what triggers them to go out
and buy locally to ensure our plans have a positive affect.
The Department of Transport (DoT) in New York has recently
published a report called Measuring the Street: New Metrics for
21st Century Streets. The report focuses on streets in the city that
have been redesigned to improve conditions for all road users
through the reallocation of space, dedicated space for cyclists,
more public space and rationalised parking and loading provision.
In 8th and 9th Avenues in Manhattan the DoT introduced the
first protected bike lane in the US. Monitoring of the scheme has
shown:
• A 35% decrease in injuries to all street users on 8th Ave
• A 58% decrease in injuries to all street users on 9th Ave
• Up to 49% increase in retail sales
As part of the consultation and engagement for the mini Holland
programme we will set-up a specific business support and
engagement team that will:
• Work with the business community to raise awareness of
the opportunities for adopting cycling as part of their own
business operations (including the potential for cargo bikes,
utilisation of car club vehicles instead of grey fleet);
• Promote the benefits of cycling culture to the business
community;
• Promote workplace travel planning
• Work with businesses to review parking needs in Walthamstow
Town Centre, in our secondary centres and along the key
cycling corridor;
• Advise on the initiatives available for staff such as cycle
training, cycle to work scheme
• Encourage businesses to help us monitor the success of the
implementation of the scheme by monitoring sales and travel
choices of customers
Public transport companies
As part of the implementation of the mini Holland programme
we will work with local transport operators including community
transport operators, taxi companies and coach companies to
ensure that opportunities are taken for the companies to support
and benefit from the successful bid.
We know that there is a risk there will be issues surrounding the
implementation of the works associated with the bid and certain
business groups. For example taxi companies are often located
on main corridors and parked vehicles on these routes outside
of the hours of limits waiting restrictions, sometimes rendering
existing cycle infrastructure useless.
There are however real opportunities for taxi companies as part
of the mini Holland programme. In Denmark, all taxis are fitted
with cycle racks so you can combine the two modes where
necessary e.g. a late night puncture or a longer stay at the pub.
We want to try to emulate this and as part of the mini Holland
programme we will:
• Work with taxi companies to find solutions to their parking
requirements that do not impact on cycle provision
• Offer taxi companies the opportunity to take part in NVQ driver
training.
• Provide drivers the opportunity to take part in the cycling
introduction/reintroduction courses,
• Give companies opportunities to purchase cycle friendly
equipment for their vehicles including additional mirrors and
cycle racks
• Promote cycle friendly public transport/taxi operators
including information on key cycle routes and locations