Tag Archives: cycling

Are You Aware of The 2022 Highway Code Changes?

There are some new Highway Code rules which will be coming into effect on the 29th January 2022, to improve safety for cyclists, pedestrians and horse riders. These changes will create greater responsibility for drivers. Three of the biggest Highway Code changes have been explained below.

Rule H1: New Hierarchy of Road Users. Drivers of vehicles that can cause the greatest harm in the event of a collision bear the greatest responsibility to take care and reduce danger to others.

Rule H2: New Priority for Pedestrians at Junctions. At a junction, drivers, motorcyclists, horse riders and cyclists should give way to pedestrians crossing or waiting to cross a road into which or from which you are turning. You should give way to pedestrians waiting to cross a zebra crossing (currently you only have to give way if they are already on the crossing), and to pedestrians and cyclists waiting to cross a parallel crossing.

Rule H3: New Priority for Cyclists When Cars are Turning. You should not cut across cyclists, horse riders or horse drawn vehicles going ahead when you are turning into or out of a junction or changing direction or lane. This applies whether they are using a cycle lane/track, or riding ahead on the road and you should give way to them. Do not turn at a junction if to do so would cause the cyclist, horse rider, or horse drawn vehicle going ahead to stop or swerve. You should stop and wait for a safe gap in the flow of cyclists if necessary.

It is vital to stay up to date with the Highway Code and it is easy to keep updated online:

GOV.UK provides a list of the latest Highway Code updates and let’s you see what has been amended. It also allows you to search for key words and phrases within The Highway Code, quickly move between related rules, follow links to the original laws that the rules are based on and print sections.
You can also sign up for email alerts and be notified whenever the Highway Code is being updated.
Follow @HighwayCodeGB on Twitter or Facebook for news of any updates and regular road safety reminders.
There is also the Official Highway Code app.

Planning your Journey: during adverse weather

As the weather is beginning to get colder, it is important that you understand what to do during adverse weather. The Transport Team’s Travel During Adverse Weather page has been updated with relevant information to ensure you know what to do if adverse weather occurs.

The team have also created a Top tips to help you plan your journey in advance of travelling in snow, ice, high winds and torrential rain to ensure you are always prepared for travel disruption and are winter ready. In addition, the Transport Team’s Planning your Journey pages are updated regularly with useful journey planning tools and advice to assist you. Remember the weather can change at any time, you should be prepared for this before you start your journey.

Where possible the Transport Team will endeavour to keep the @unikent_travel twitter feed updated with all transport information and any travel disruptions on or around our campuses.

Driving:

Ensure that you and your vehicle are prepared for driving in adverse weather conditions. Read some top tips to prepare for driving during the winter and don’t forget to plan your journey before you leave so you are aware of any disruptions.

Public transport, cycling and walking:

Plan your journey, check if there are problems on public transport or local roads
Delay your journey, if possible, to allow temperatures to rise and ice or snow to melt
Avoid footways in the shade. It takes longer for ice or snow to melt in the shade
Always wear appropriate footwear and reflective/bright clothing
Ensure that you have a torch or lights so motorists and others can see you when walking or cycling. Think Be Bright Be Seen .

Other Useful Links:

Travel Safe and Be Seen

It is that time of year when the clocks go back (31st October), meaning the days are shorter and the nights are longer. It is now more likely you will be travelling during non-daylight hours.

Watch the films below and count how many people you can see at the beginning of each film and at the end of each film.

Who did you see first and why?

Whichever mode of transport you decide to use there are things you can do to make sure other road users can see you. This can range from wearing something that is bright and reflective, ensuring your vehicle is clean, your lights are working or simply using your torch.

Find more advice on our travel safety page.

Changes to the Highway Code 2021

The rules in the Highway code are being updated for 2021 to improve road safety for cyclists, pedestrians and horse riders. There will be further changes made to the Code between September 2021 and February 2022.

It is vital to stay up to date with the Highway Code and it is easy to keep updated online:

GOV.UK provides a list of the latest Highway Code updates and let’s you see what has been amended. It also allows you to search for key words and phrases within The Highway Code,quickly move between related rules, follow links to the original laws that the rules are based on and print sections.
You can also sign up for email alerts and be notified whenever the Highway Code is being updated.
Follow @HighwayCodeGB on Twitter or Facebook for news of any updates and regular road safety reminders.
There is also the Official Highway Code app.

Cycle to Work Scheme

Cycling is good for health and fitness; it’s beneficial to the environment and is a quick, cheap mode of transport in urban areas.

The Staff Cycle to Work Scheme offers employees the opportunity to purchase a brand new bike and accessories from a range of participating local stores at a discounted rate. You will also save on Income Tax and National Insurance contributions, against the cost of the bike, and can even spread the cost over a 12 or 18 month period.

In order to qualify, you must use the bike for at least 50% of your journeys to and from work. To find out if you are eligible visit the staff finance page.

The cycle scheme provided by www.cyclescheme.co.uk means the purchase hire value has been extended above the previous £1,000 limit. This change in scheme enables employees to continue enjoying the benefits of a cycle to work scheme arrangement with the opportunity to hire a bicycle plus relevant safety equipment up to the value of £3,000 as a tax-free benefit, through a salary sacrifice arrangement; employees take a reduced gross salary during the hire period thus making savings by paying reduced income tax and national insurance contributions.

Some common FAQ’s can be found on the Employee answers – Cyclescheme Knowledge Base

Please also remember if you are cycling to, from, or around the campus be bright and be seen. Make sure you are visible to motorists. For more information, hints and tips check out the roadwise website.

WHAT NO CAR! Do you need a car whilst at University?

Will you use a car?

Consider why you think you need a car and how often those trips are required whilst you are living in Kent. You may be thinking that you will use a car for grocery shopping once a week; but have you considered that there are shops all around the local area (including on campus) or you could share the cost of a food delivery with your household? Will you really need to travel home during term time, or maybe to a weekend job? Consider if this job will continue whilst you are studying and living the student experience and establish how much your earnings are or what that job will do to enhance your CV. Does it cover the cost of owning a car and your expenses, support your studies or improve your CV?

Tip – to make a true assessment consider everything, even the likelihood that you may become a designated driver that your friends want you to drive to further away destinations for nights out because you have a car. Don’t forget your road safety and if you have been out drinking the night before you are unlikely to be able to drive the following morning to your 9am lecture as you may still have alcohol in your body system and be over the illegal driving limit!

How will I travel without a car?

Consider what alternative options you have to using the car to travel. There are many other options available to you and when considering these options look at the travel discounts you are entitled to whilst living in Kent as a student. We are fortunate in Kent to have direct access to and from London where you can link easily to travel all over the UK. We also have highspeed trains, as well as Eurostar and ferries to France nearby. We have excellent public transport, walking and cycling routes around Canterbury & Medway to shops, beaches, culture, restaurants, countryside and nightlife.

Tip – check out our Commute Smarter and Planning your Journey webpages and the travel discounts you have available to you as a student.

Access to parking

Research where you can park your vehicle. Are you entitled to park in these locations, will you be eligible for the permit to park in that area? There are costs to parking a vehicle on some local streets, as well as within car parks. Now calculate how much that parking will cost you, against the frequency of how often you will be using car parks throughout the whole time you are living in Kent.

Tip – look at the local council webpages for Canterbury or Medway (depending on where you will be living) and see if you require a permit to park in your street or where you are eligible to park. Note that parking on campus may not be available to you if you live within the University’s local exclusion zone.

Time

You may be thinking that travelling around by car will save you time. You could be right; but calculate the whole time you will be driving for at Kent. Ensure you calculate the time it takes to get in the car, drive to the car park and then walk to your destination for all the times you will be driving. Remember much of the term time is during the winter months when adverse weather occurs. You may need time to de-ice the car before you can drive (meaning you have to get up earlier). The frequency of bus services between the bus station and the university can be up to every 8 minutes. If you travel by bus or train, consider the time you gain as you wouldn’t have the stresses of being stuck in congestion and you could use the time to use the Wi-Fi available on board to do that last minute studying or catch up with your friends.

Tip – Canterbury City and Medway Towns can become congested with traffic during peak travel times. This means what may be a usual 20 minute journey could become a 40 minute journey; so you will need to get up earlier to give yourself extra time for travel and if you need to be on campus for 9am it may become a stressful journey! So do plan your journey for all eventualities and consider your health and wellbeing.

Neighbours and the local community

University of Kent prides itself with working and supporting our local communities. We are always disappointed to occasionally receive complaints about the number of cars that a household of students have or students who have inconsiderately parked such as blocking access to a drive or path. Do you have a driveway where you are living when at university? Will you be parking on the driveway? If yes will your housemates be parking on there too? Will you need your housemate to move their vehicle so you can get out in your car? You will need to all park on the driveway if this is what you have all told your insurance company, so consider if it is practically possible to park on the driveway and if you are parking on the road consider the local residents parking and don’t block access for others.

Tip – Remember when considering where to live off campus look at the public transport options to and from university, and other places you like to go on a regular basis, so you can choose a place to live where you don’t need to have a car.

Ozone

We all have a responsibility to help reduce our carbon emissions and the University of Kent wants everyone to reduce their travel by single car occupancy and travel by sustainable or active travel where possible. This commitment is demonstrated in the success of our active Travel Plans. Since the plans introduction in 2006, students have supported the initiatives and have reduced travel by car to the university significantly. We are proud of our students and we would like you to help continue this commitment to protect our environment, improve air quality and reduce carbon emissions by not travelling by car, where it is possible to do so.

Tip – You may have a low or no emission vehicle, but your vehicle will contribute towards congestion if you drive during peak times of travel; and that in the bigger picture means that other vehicles stuck behind you will produce more emissions (remember not everyone can afford to buy a new electric vehicle, at the moment). So where you don’t need to drive then please support our Travel Plan and help us to help the environment and become more sustainable. If you do need a car then consider if you each need a car in your household – can you share a vehicle and take it in turns to be designated driver or share the costs?

Cost

You may be thinking that travelling around by car will be cheaper. Owning a car is not cheap, if you don’t already have a car think about how much buying a car will cost you. If you already own a car and know you are not going to need it during the time you are studying at Kent, then consider the money you would get towards your student experience if you were to sell it or SORN it. We recommend you calculate the cost of fuel for all the trips you will be doing. Do you think you will end up being the designated driver for your household and friends as they may not be bringing their car? Consider the cost of changing the insurance (you need to notify your insurance where you will be living), the MoT and tax. Don’t forget to include vehicle recovery costs (ensuring you have the most appropriate membership to ensure you can return home safely) and the cost of any ‘wear and tear’ repairs. Hopefully you won’t have repair costs; but if you are spending money on having a car whilst at university, it wouldn’t be cost efficient if you are then not able to afford to repair it if it goes wrong or replace a tyre if you puncture it.

Tip – Check out the hugely discounted bus passes you are entitled to as a Kent student; see how far and often you can travel on the buses. Plus, if you don’t have to bring a car then you don’t need to remember to insure, MoT, tax etc on time- and that is one less thing to worry about!

Active travel

Not having a car may mean you could consider incorporating walking or cycling within your commute to/from the university. This could formulate part of an exercise routine or just keep you active to stay healthy. The University supports this by providing showers, cycle parking and other initiatives that may help you.

Tip – If you are too far to walk or cycle direct from home, then why not plan your journey and do what others are doing and make active travel part of your journey to/from the train station or bus stop.

Recreation and wellbeing

Not having a car means you may have more money to spend. It could also means you can socialise with others or spend time on the internet. There are plenty of places to visit in Canterbury and Medway during you time at Kent. Not having to drive is also good for your health and wellbeing as you don’t have the stress of being stuck in traffic or remembering to insure your car or even having to always be your friends designated driver!

Tip – If you are unsure if you need a car then try leaving your car at home for a few months. Maybe family or friends can be insured to drive it whilst you are at university or consider saving money and SORN the vehicle. If you give this a go but you are finding it difficult to travel around then you still have your car, at least you can say you tried! However, if you find you don’t need the car then you can consider your options if to keep the car or sell the car.

Annual Cleaning of Bike Shelters

On Monday 7th June 2021, the large polycarbonate bike shelters on Canterbury campus are being cleaned. Therefore, there may be restricted access to some of the bike shelters whilst the cleaning is taking place.

For information on the cycle shelters, including a map of the location of all Canterbury based bike lockups and the online form to request access to cycle shelters please visit www.kent.ac.uk/transport/cycling/facilities/

Dr Bike is back!

In line with the University’s Green Travel Plans and the developing University Masterplan Framework, the Transport Team are always trying to find ways to encourage sustainable travel. To encourage walking ad cycling we provide many initiatives across our campuses including; cycling and walking routes, cycle hire, free bicycle checks, and discounted bicycle repair works to staff and students.

Dr Bike:

We work in close partnership with Dr Bike, at Bycycle, an experienced bicycle mechanic to provide bicycle maintenance, repairs, adjustments, and safety health checks. Dr Bike carries out checks and minor adjustments free of charge. Additional repair work is also available and will always be charged at a special University of Kent reduced rate.

Bicycle repairs will be conducted on a first-come-first-served basis and we generally aim for same-day service but this is less likely if you arrive late in the day!

Canterbury Campus:

The service is available to all University of Kent students and staff.

When and where is Dr Bike at Canterbury:

Dr Bike is on the Canterbury campus every Wednesday, during term time between 08:30 and 16:00.

Find Dr Bike at the Kent Sport Cycle Hub outside the Pavilion, on Park Wood road.

Medway Campus:

The service is available to all University of Kent and University of Greenwich students and staff.

When and where is Dr Bike at Medway:

Dr Bike travels to the Medway campus once a month during term time between 12:30 and 15:30. His dates for the 2020/2021 academic year are:

Thursday 8th October 2020.
Thursday 12th November 2020.
Thursday 10th December 2020.
Thursday 21st January 2021.
Thursday 11th February 2021.
Thursday 11th March 2021.
Thursday 13th May 2021.
Thursday 10th June 2021.

Find Dr Bike outside the Deep End Student Hub on the Pembroke Campus.

For any enquiries regarding bike hire or servicing, contact ByCycle on chris@easybycycle.co.uk or telephone 07842 636597. For more information see our cycling webpages.

COVID Safety:

To ensure this service is COVID-friendly Dr Bike has introduced enhanced cleaning regimes and will be using a track and trace system. It is also essential that you should not enter the workshop or storage areas unless absolutely necessary and when you do you maintain social distancing and wear a face covering. Please also try to avoid busy times, such as during lunch breaks.

For more information visit our travelling during COVID page.

Note: During this time our shower facilities are unavailable.

Dr Bike at Medway and bicycle marking by Medway police

Dr Bike’s first 2020 visit to Medway is coming up on Thursday 23 January. He will be outside the Student Hub between 12:30 and 15:30.

Dr Bike is a trained bicycle mechanic, who offers free cycle health checks including adjustments and advice on repairs. Major repair work and parts are available and will always be charged at a reduced rate for staff and students. The service is available to all University of Kent and University of Greenwich staff and students.

The University of Greenwich have also organised for Medway police to come and perform bike marking between 12:30 and 13:30. Marking consists of taking the frame number from your bicycle, then marking your bicycle with a unique reference number using a chemical compound and applying a semi-tamperproof sticker. All of the reference numbers are then logged on to a secure database, run by BikeRegister.

Registering your bike helps the police identify the legitimate owners of bicycles that have been stolen.

The police will also be able to offer bicycle security and safety advice.

You do not need to register for the event, which is free to all. Just bring your bicycle to the Student Hub on Pembroke campus.

For more information see our cycling webpages.

New year, new commute?

Happy New Year from the Transport Team! As it is the time of year for resolutions and trying out new things, why not try a new commute for the New Year? There are many different ways to travel to and from campus, which may be cheaper, easier, more social, and environmentally friendlier.

To help, we have put together a guide to some of the transport links the university has below.

Train Travel

Both campuses are served by good train links.

Canterbury is served by two train stations: Canterbury East and West. Both are on the Uni bus routes or if your New Year’s resolution was to get fit, why not try walking from the station to the campus a couple of times a week. It is a great way to fit in your steps before work!

For Medway, there are two train stations near the campus: Chatham and Gillingham. Both have regular services running in to them from most of the county. They are accessible via bus or a short walk.

There are many options to help with the ticket costs. For those who travel more than three times a week, season tickets can work out a lot cheaper, giving you unlimited travel of the route. For more information, please see the SouthEastern Rail website.

There are also plenty of railcards which can save you up to a third off all rail journeys: 16-25, Two Together, and Network railcards to name a few. These can be used on any journey you make across the country, and could end up saving you a fortune!

To see if there is any easy train route for your commute, use the rail journey planner now.

Bus Services

Canterbury:

From Canterbury bus station, there are buses travelling far and wide across the region. To see the nearest route to you, use the Stagecoach route planner. A quick journey on the Unibus service (running every 8 minutes during peak times!) brings you up to campus from the city centre, stopping at multiple stops around campus.

The Unibus 1 and 2, Triangle (serving Herne Bay and Whitstable), 4, and 6 services come directly on to campus. For those of you lucky enough to live along one of those routes, you will not even need to change buses in Canterbury.

To help make bus commutes affordable for all, the university works with Stagecoach to offer staff discounted tickets with the option of paying via salary deduction to spread the cost. For more information, please see our webpage.

Medway:

The Medway campuses are served by a number of different services coming from across Medway, which can be seen on our webpages.

As with Stagecoach, the university works with Arriva to offer discounted bus travel to staff. For more information, and to download the promotional codes, please visit our webpage.

For more information on routes and timetables, please see our website.

Car Sharing

Still need to drive, but want to make it cheaper and more social? Why not try car sharing?

We have teamed up with the University of Greenwich and Canterbury Christ Church University to develop a private online car share scheme for staff and students via LiftShare.

On the Canterbury campus, we even have dedicated car share bays in the Estates car park, allowing those with a car share permit to park with ease in a central location.

You don’t have to Liftshare every day, even sharing once a week with someone makes a big difference. You’d be surprised how much the benefits add up over time; we’re talking financial savings (drivers can make back up to 100% of their fuel costs by sharing), as well as reducing your carbon footprint and decreasing congestion and parking pressures. Plus you might make some great new connections!

For more information on car share permits, please see our webpages.

Cycling

Cycling can be a cheap, quick, and healthy way to travel. To help with the initial costs, the university offers staff a cycle to work scheme, which enables you to purchase a brand new bike and accessories from a range of participating local stores at a discounted rate.
You will also save on Income Tax and National Insurance contributions, against the cost of the bike, and can even spread the cost over a 12 or 18 month period. For more information on how to sign up, please see the staff finance page.

On both campuses we offer secure lockable cycle shelters, lockers, and showers in various locations.

Walking

If you live nearby, why not try walking to work a couple of days a week. There are many benefits of walking; it is good for your physical and mental health, as well as saving money and helping the environment. Why splash out on a gym membership when you can get your daily dose of exercise on your commute.

Transport News

This blog is used for broadcasting information about transport and parking at the University of Kent.