A group of over 30 interested individuals gathered on one of the wettest and windiest nights of the year at Cycle Heaven to hear from Pete Kilbane, Deputy Leader of the Council and Executive Member for Transport and the Economy.

Pete introduced the work that is taking place in York to develop the Local Transport Strategy and Plan, and the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan. These are now being consulted on – online and in person – and need to be finalised early in the new year before the North Yorkshire mayoral elections. The consultation has been carefully thought through and will aim to reach out to groups – including young people and deprived communities – that are often ignored in this process.

There were many thoughtful questions and much interesting discussion on a wide range of transport issues including:

• How to improve safety for vulnerable road users, including the role of cycle paths and road speed reduction
• The importance of re-allocating road space away from cars to active travel and public transport
• The need to improve cycle path maintenance and cycle parking
• Avoiding pigeon-holing people, recognising that many individuals use multiple forms of transport
• Buses and the role they play: routes, prices, reliability, park and ride
• Parking – capacity, cost, pavement parking, alternative use of space
• The pros and cons of congestion charging
• Funding opportunities
• How best way to move freight around the city.