Benchmarking of local cycling policy.

In February 2000, the CTC (the national cyclists' organisation) launched a new initiative to use the technique of benchmarking to create a network of UK local authorities and support them in the implementation of their cycling policies. The process entails assessing policy and practice to determine what actually works in encouraging cycling in the UK context. It considers all aspects of cycling policy, from promotion to engineering design, and from training to maintenance of cycle paths. Initially the project extended over three years, with up to ten local authorities participating in the benchmarking process each year. The CTC has been acting as facilitator, providing technical advice throughout the process. Currently in its third year, the project now involves 27 local authorities from England, Wales and Scotland, covering urban, rural and metropolitan areas, and has demonstrated the technique to be a highly effective means for sharing experience and disseminating best practice. As the next step, the CTC has developed a regional version of the project and is rolling it out more widely among the remaining 170 local highway authorities. The key elements of the benchmarking process are described. The visits during the first two years identified some 500 specific examples of good practice that impressed participants. Using peer review, nearly half of these examples were rated as outstanding, offering benchmarks of best practice. Many of the remainder caught the interest of the group as promising initiatives that could be developed into potential benchmarks. The national benchmarking process has proven itself to be an invaluable training tool. Networking is a fundamental objective of the project. The strong sense of cohesion which it creates is reflected in the high level of commitment to the process, with an average attendance of 95% during the first two years. As well as picking up new ideas through the visits to other authorities, participants have benefited from hosting a visit, which has raised the profile of cycling in their authority and increased their confidence as cycling officers in what is often an isolated role. For the covering abstract see ITRD E126595.