“Good urban design is essential if we are to produce attractive, high-quality, sustainable places in which people will want to live, work and relax.”
These were the opening words from a guide produced 25 years ago by then MP Nick Raynsford and Sir Stuart Lipton aiming to improve urban design standards. Today, they still ring true.
In fact, the guide emphasises putting ‘people before traffic’ in an effort to promote more cycling and walking journeys, so as to create urban areas which are easy and pleasant to move around.
That, surely, is what good urban design hinges on: making our towns and cities better places for people to live, work, and relax. It’s something urban planners, politicians, and councils have been working to improve for years
But what part could cycle infrastructure play in this vision? Can bike lanes and cycle parking help improve the way our urban areas function? The answer is yes.
More space for everyone
Put simply, more cycling and walking journeys help create more space. More space on our pavements, more space on our high streets, more space around new residential developments, and even more space around our schools.
This space is gained by reducing car journeys. Cars take up significantly more room when parked and require larger, more complex infrastructure. In contrast, bicycles are compact, and bike lanes occupy far less space than roads.
By investing in the right infrastructure – such as dedicated cycle lanes, traffic-calmed streets, and accessible cycle parking – cities can accelerate the shift away from car dependency.
A major issue for urban accessibility is pavement parking, which can be particularly problematic for disabled people, parents with prams, and the elderly. One solution is better urban planning, such as well-designed one-way systems and dedicated cycle lanes, to encourage more people to walk and cycle. This helps reduce congestion and frees up pedestrian areas.
This breathing room is not just figurative either. Fewer car journeys mean lower carbon emissions and improved air quality, making urban environments healthier.
Integrating more green infrastructure such as tree-lined cycle paths, sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDs) and green-roofed bike shelters further enhance urban sustainability.
Take Hammersmith Bridge, for example, which has been undergoing extensive repair work for years. A key debate surrounding its reopening is whether cars should be allowed back on it. Prioritising cycling and pedestrian access over motor vehicles could create an environment where people can chat, socialise, and move in a quieter, more sustainable way.
Cycle parking as design itself
Cycle parking is not just a functional necessity. It can also be a feature of good urban design. Poorly planned cycle storage can become an eyesore, especially if not properly maintained. But thoughtfully designed solutions have the ability to enhance both form and function.
Modern cycle hubs, shelters and canopies can be designed with aesthetics in mind, using durable materials that complement their surroundings and age well.
Green roofs, in particular, are an excellent example of cycle infrastructure that contributes to urban design. They not only help reduce carbon emissions and improve biodiversity but also add visual appeal to urban areas.
Properly designed and maintained cycle parking areas can help more people confidently cycle small journeys they might otherwise use a car for. That filters through the entire urban design process–from the front door right through into city and town centres.
