Banbury Active Travel Supporters – BATS

BATS . . who are we?

Banbury Active Travel Supporters (BATS) is a project set up by Banbury Community Action Group (BCAG). We are a group of local people based in Banbury interested in making our public thoroughfares safer and more accessible for all active travellers (cyclists, walkers and people needing to use wheelchairs or other mobility aids).

Everyone in Banbury would benefit if there was less air and noise pollution. Less use of petrol and diesel vehicles would make Banbury a safer, healthier and friendlier place to live and work.

This is a campaign not just for cyclists and walkers but for anyone concerned about air quality, the safety of our streets, traffic congestion and noise.

Got any suggestions or ideas? Email us and let us know about:

• other groups we could approach to consult and work with
• “Quick wins”. How small changes could be easily and cheaply carried out to make travelling in and around Banbury easier and safer for cyclists and pedestrians.
• safe cycle and walking routes in Banbury – bearing in mind that the most popular destinations are schools, rail station, bus station, shops and leisure centres

Want to write to a local councillor about an active travel issue? We have a contact list here and a set of template letters here.

We support:

• general improvements to public transport e.g. more frequent and reliable services especially using buses which have low emissions.
• easy access to public transport links to make car-free journeys easier e.g. safer walking and cycling routes to bus stops and the railway station.
• improvements to infrastructure to make roads and pathways more accessible for people of all ages and abilities. We like smooth, wide and unobstructed pavements and pedestrian crossings where we don’t have to wait minutes before starting to cross . . and even then we might only get half way, where we have to wait again, gasping for clean air. We also want cycle routes that are clearly signed, direct, safe, comfortable and attractive.
• calmer traffic and less of it. Did you know that 64% of vehicles in 2022 had only ONE occupant?
• lower speed limits: 20mph in residential areas.

Walks and rides

Families Active Sporting Together (FAST) Cycling / walking routes in Banbury https://www.cherwell.gov.uk/downloads/download/1404/fast-cycling-routes

Banbury Fringe, 10 mile Circular Walk https://www.cherwell.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/9695/banbury-fringe-walk.pdf

Komoot https://www.komoot.com/ Walks and rides all over the place . . create your own and share them too.

Mapmyride https://www.mapmyride.com/gb/banbury-eng/ Similar to Komoot but not so many rides near Banbury.

Local walks around Banbury: https://www.localwalks.co.uk/local-walks-blog/10-great-walks-in-and-around- banbury

Cherwell District Council Circular Walks and Historic Trails https://www.cherwell.gov.uk/info/3/leisure-and-culture/246/circular-walks-in-cherwell

Local walks https://www.localwalks.co.uk/local-walks-blog/10-great-walks-in-and-around-banbury

Useful links

Cycling groups

Banbury Star Cycling Club http://www.banburystar.co.uk/

Bicester Bike Users Group https://bicesterbug.wordpress.com/

Cycling UK Oxfordshire http://cyclingukoxfordshire.org/strategic-cycle-network/

Oxfordshire Cycling Network (OCN) Robin Tucker

Oxfordshire Cycling Network (OCN) includes members from 30 cycling and supporting organisations in the county. OCN represents the 180,000 people in the county who cycle regularly and the 480,000 who would cycle if it were safe, convenient and pleasant.

Schemes are still being developed, both by authorities in the county and by private developers that fall short of the needs of people who want to cycle to work, to school or for other reasons.  If you would like to help, please email OCN, or follow us on Twitter at @OxonCyclingNet. Part of Cycling UK

Active travel at street level

20’s Plenty Campaign https://www.20splenty.org

Active Oxfordshire https:// www.activeoxfordshire. org/who-we-are

At Active Oxfordshire, we are passionate about finding sustainable approaches to fighting inactivity and challenging health inequalities. We focus our key interventions on increasing physical activity opportunities for children and young people, older people, people living with health conditions or disabilities and people affected by mental health difficulties. We also adopt a place based approach to these interventions and, through partners, focus on the ten wards experiencing the highest levels of deprivation across Oxfordshire.

COHSAT: The Coalition for Healthy Streets and Active Travel Oxfordshire https://cohsat.org.uk/

CoHSAT is a group of voluntary and campaigning organisations working across Oxfordshire to create attractive, accessible and people-friendly streets. We do this by encouraging efficient, active, low carbon and sustainable travel, which will reduce traffic, air pollution and noise, and enable healthy and thriving communities. CoHSAT’s role is to amplify member and partner voices, facilitate discussion, and increase engagement on healthy streets and active travel across Oxfordshire.

Associated organisations:

Cyclox https://www.cyclox.org/

Oxford Friends of the Earth https://www.oxfoe.co.uk/

Oxfordshire Liveable Streets https://oxlivsts.org.uk/about/

We advocate integrated transport systems that put active modes first, supplemented by public transport options. We call for pedestrianized city and town centres, as well as an end to rat-running in residential neighbourhoods.

Council contacts

How to report a pothole on using Fix My Street (Oxfordshire) https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/residents/roads-and-transport/street-maintenance-z/road-repairs

Oxfordshire Active Travel Promoting walking & cycling in Oxfordshire

Joaquim Muntané, Active and Healthy Travel Officer Oxfordshire County Council Mobile: 07526973012

Oxfordshire Local Transport and Connectivity Plan https://letstalk.oxfordshire.gov.uk/ltcp