Essex Cycling Strategy

We want to support more people to cycle more often and have developed a new draft Essex Cycling Strategy to help achieve this goal.

The strategy is part of wider set of plans to make Essex safer, greener and healthier, and to provide more sustainable travel choices for everyone.

We have worked with our partners to develop the strategy, based on the best ideas, practice and evidence from around the world.

You can read our full draft Essex Cycling Strategy, or a summary version.

We invited residents and businesses in Essex to have their say on the strategy by taking part in our public consultation, which ran from Thursday 23 May to Sunday 14 July 2024.

Thank you to everyone who shared their views with us as part of the consultation. We are currently reviewing and analysing your responses.

Once this is complete, the feedback we have received will be summarised in a public consultation report and used to help refine and improve the final version of the Essex Cycling Strategy.

Our vision

"To see more people, of all abilities, ages and backgrounds, cycling in Essex more safely and more frequently."

We are passionate about cycling in Essex. Whether you are young or old, beginner or expert, cycling is for everyone. It is a great way to stay healthy, enjoy the outdoors and explore our beautiful county.

By choosing to cycle more often, you can help to reduce traffic, air pollution and carbon emissions, and create a more vibrant community.

We believe that cycling can transform Essex for the better.

Picture showing group of cyclists in Essex

Picture showing shared pedestrian and cycle path in Essex

Why cycling is important to Essex

Cycling can help tackle many of the big issues we face here in Essex. The diagram below shows some of those challenges and the opportunities cycling offers to help address them. Clicking on the diagram will open it in a new tab.

A graphic providing the following information. Opportunities: Reduced emissions - Cycling has 0 CO2 emissions per passenger km compared to a car with 160, a bus with 120 and rail with 68. Cheaper Alternative - in 2022, running a car cost on average £291.67 per month compared to £43.55 for an e-bike and significantly less for a standard bicycle. Short Journeys to work - 30% of people in Essex live less than 3 miles from their job. Improved mental health and happiness - Those regularly cycle have a significantly lower risk of feeling stressed. Physical activity - Doing 30 minutes of physical activity a week can increase life expectancy by more than a year. Saving time and money - If more people cycle, congestion will be reduced, saving drivers and businesses money. Challenges: Climate change and poor air quality - 49% of CO2 emissions in Essex are from transport. Cost of congestion – The cost of congestion in urban areas in Essex was estimated at over £120 million in 2018. High number of short journeys by car – up to 43% of car trips in Essex are under three miles. Poor mental health – 1 in 6 Essex residents are known to be living with mental illness. Inactivity – 30% of people in Essex do less than 30 minutes of exercise a week. Cost of living and deprivation – over 123,000 people in Essex live in the bottom 20% of the most deprived areas in the UK.

Cycling outcomes for Essex

To achieve our vision, we have identified six key outcomes to guide our actions and investment in cycling in the future.

Outcome 1: Changing Perceptions – Cycling is a natural and attractive option for people and businesses in Essex.

We want everyone to feel that cycling is safe and convenient. This will require everyone to work together to help change people's habits and enable our communities to enjoy the benefits this will bring.

Outcome 2: The Cycle Network – The current and future cycle network in Essex is safe, convenient, and accessible for all types of trips.

To support people who want to cycle more, we need a network of routes that is fit for purpose. That’s why we are committed to creating a network that is easy, safe, and fun to use and connects to the places you want to go.

Outcome 3: Communities, Health and Equality – Cycling helps to create more inclusive and connected communities, as well as improving health and reducing inequalities.

We want cycling to be an option for everyone, but some people face challenges that make this more difficult and prevent them from doing so. We want to change that and make cycling more accessible and inclusive for all.

Outcome 4: The Economy – Cycling contributes to the economy and bring jobs and employment to local communities.

Cycling is not only good for your health, but also has many cost saving benefits, for individuals, cities, and society. It has great potential to deliver continued and inclusive economic success in Essex.

Outcome 5: The Environment - Cycling improves the environment in Essex by reducing emissions, noise, congestion and enhancing quality of life.

We want to reduce the county's greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050 and we know that transport is a crucial part of this. Improving our environment now, and for the future, is a key commitment.

Outcome 6: Leisure Cycling - Essex is a popular destination for leisure, cycling and tourism.

Many people enjoy cycling for leisure because it is a fun activity and a convenient way to get around. Others enjoy cycling for the health benefits it brings to both mind and body.

Contact us

For any queries about the Essex Cycling Strategy, please email us at: SGH.routes@essex.gov.uk

We want to support more people to cycle more often and have developed a new draft Essex Cycling Strategy to help achieve this goal.

The strategy is part of wider set of plans to make Essex safer, greener and healthier, and to provide more sustainable travel choices for everyone.

We have worked with our partners to develop the strategy, based on the best ideas, practice and evidence from around the world.

You can read our full draft Essex Cycling Strategy, or a summary version.

We invited residents and businesses in Essex to have their say on the strategy by taking part in our public consultation, which ran from Thursday 23 May to Sunday 14 July 2024.

Thank you to everyone who shared their views with us as part of the consultation. We are currently reviewing and analysing your responses.

Once this is complete, the feedback we have received will be summarised in a public consultation report and used to help refine and improve the final version of the Essex Cycling Strategy.

Our vision

"To see more people, of all abilities, ages and backgrounds, cycling in Essex more safely and more frequently."

We are passionate about cycling in Essex. Whether you are young or old, beginner or expert, cycling is for everyone. It is a great way to stay healthy, enjoy the outdoors and explore our beautiful county.

By choosing to cycle more often, you can help to reduce traffic, air pollution and carbon emissions, and create a more vibrant community.

We believe that cycling can transform Essex for the better.

Picture showing group of cyclists in Essex

Picture showing shared pedestrian and cycle path in Essex

Why cycling is important to Essex

Cycling can help tackle many of the big issues we face here in Essex. The diagram below shows some of those challenges and the opportunities cycling offers to help address them. Clicking on the diagram will open it in a new tab.

A graphic providing the following information. Opportunities: Reduced emissions - Cycling has 0 CO2 emissions per passenger km compared to a car with 160, a bus with 120 and rail with 68. Cheaper Alternative - in 2022, running a car cost on average £291.67 per month compared to £43.55 for an e-bike and significantly less for a standard bicycle. Short Journeys to work - 30% of people in Essex live less than 3 miles from their job. Improved mental health and happiness - Those regularly cycle have a significantly lower risk of feeling stressed. Physical activity - Doing 30 minutes of physical activity a week can increase life expectancy by more than a year. Saving time and money - If more people cycle, congestion will be reduced, saving drivers and businesses money. Challenges: Climate change and poor air quality - 49% of CO2 emissions in Essex are from transport. Cost of congestion – The cost of congestion in urban areas in Essex was estimated at over £120 million in 2018. High number of short journeys by car – up to 43% of car trips in Essex are under three miles. Poor mental health – 1 in 6 Essex residents are known to be living with mental illness. Inactivity – 30% of people in Essex do less than 30 minutes of exercise a week. Cost of living and deprivation – over 123,000 people in Essex live in the bottom 20% of the most deprived areas in the UK.

Cycling outcomes for Essex

To achieve our vision, we have identified six key outcomes to guide our actions and investment in cycling in the future.

Outcome 1: Changing Perceptions – Cycling is a natural and attractive option for people and businesses in Essex.

We want everyone to feel that cycling is safe and convenient. This will require everyone to work together to help change people's habits and enable our communities to enjoy the benefits this will bring.

Outcome 2: The Cycle Network – The current and future cycle network in Essex is safe, convenient, and accessible for all types of trips.

To support people who want to cycle more, we need a network of routes that is fit for purpose. That’s why we are committed to creating a network that is easy, safe, and fun to use and connects to the places you want to go.

Outcome 3: Communities, Health and Equality – Cycling helps to create more inclusive and connected communities, as well as improving health and reducing inequalities.

We want cycling to be an option for everyone, but some people face challenges that make this more difficult and prevent them from doing so. We want to change that and make cycling more accessible and inclusive for all.

Outcome 4: The Economy – Cycling contributes to the economy and bring jobs and employment to local communities.

Cycling is not only good for your health, but also has many cost saving benefits, for individuals, cities, and society. It has great potential to deliver continued and inclusive economic success in Essex.

Outcome 5: The Environment - Cycling improves the environment in Essex by reducing emissions, noise, congestion and enhancing quality of life.

We want to reduce the county's greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050 and we know that transport is a crucial part of this. Improving our environment now, and for the future, is a key commitment.

Outcome 6: Leisure Cycling - Essex is a popular destination for leisure, cycling and tourism.

Many people enjoy cycling for leisure because it is a fun activity and a convenient way to get around. Others enjoy cycling for the health benefits it brings to both mind and body.

Contact us

For any queries about the Essex Cycling Strategy, please email us at: SGH.routes@essex.gov.uk

  • CLOSED: This survey has concluded.

    Essex Cycling Strategy - Public Consultation Survey

    How we use your data

    This survey is for you to provide information to be used by the Essex Cycling Strategy project team. Under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) we have a legal duty to protect any information we collect from you. The information will only be used for the purposes of this project and will not be kept longer than is necessary to do so, up to a maximum of five years. We share this information with our partners, Jacobs and Ringway Jacobs, but we will not share your personal details with any other agency unless we have concerns that you or another individual may be at risk of harm or if it is required by law. We do not collect personal information for commercial purposes.

    If you would like to find out more about how Essex County Council uses personal data, please go to www.essex.gov.uk/privacy or call 03457 430 430. Essex County Council has a Data Protection Officer who makes sure we respect your rights and follow the law. If you have any concerns or questions about how we look after your personal information, please contact the Data Protection Officer at DPO@essex.gov.uk or by calling 03457 430 430 and asking to speak to the Data Protection Officer.

Page published: 13 Aug 2024, 11:30 AM