18.5 Cycling can provide an alternative to the private car for short trips and form part of longer journeys by public transport. Popularity of cycling as a healthy, enjoyable, efficient, pollution-free and cheap means of transport is dependent on safe, continuous, direct and attractive cycleways, together with facilities for secure cycle storage at interchange points and destinations.

18.6 The Viking Coastal Trail roughly encircles the former Isle of Thanet providing connections between the towns, leisure and heritage attractions. It forms part of the National Cycle Network and connects to the Oyster Bay Trail to Whitstable. Other routes have designated facilities to make cycling more attractive, such as the shared use footway/cycleways adjacent to New Haine Road. Provision of toucan crossings and facilities such as cycle parking at stations, shopping centres and other key locations, also help to improve the attractiveness popularity of cycling in the district.

18.7 The Council has published a Thanet Cycling Plan (developed in association with local cycling groups), and, in conjunction with the County Council, will seek provision of a network of cycle routes using existing routes and where appropriate extensions to the primary route network. This includes part of the Sustrans national cycle network, which runs through Thanet, together with priority links between residential areas, places of work, schools, stations and town centres. The Council will seek every opportunity to introduce cycle routes in accordance with Thanet Cycling Plan

18.8 Thanet Cycling Plan aims to establish a comprehensive safe network of cycle routes catering for all journey purposes, and features existing and proposed routes. The Cycling Plan may be updated periodically to reflect the evolving network, and its proposed cycle routes are not therefore featured in this document.

18.9 New development generating travel demand will be expected to promote cycling by demonstrating that the access needs of cyclists have been taken into account, and through provision of cycle parking and changing facilities. Secure parking facilities and changing/shower facilities will encourage use of cycling. Cycle parking provision will be judged against the standards set out in the cycle parking standards Appendix C.

Policy TP03 - Cycling

The Council will seek the provision at the earliest opportunity of a network of cycle routes. Development that would prejudice the safety of existing or implementation of proposed cycle routes will not be permitted.

New development will be expected to consider the need for the safety of cyclists and incorporate facilities for cyclists into the design of new and improved roads, junction improvements and traffic management proposals.

Substantial development generating travel demand will be expected to provide convenient cycle parking and changing facilities.

New residential development will be expected to provide secure facilities for the parking and storage of cycles.