Charcon, the hard landscaping division of Aggregate Industries, has provided a bespoke, complex kerb solution for Bristol City Council for use throughout the City's cycle ways scheme.

With cycle routes on the majority of its main roads, Bristol has been crowned the UK's first Cycling City by the Department of Transport, and is also home to Sustrans, Britain's leading sustainable transport charity. British Cycling and Bristol City Council has been working in partnership to promote and develop cycling in Bristol since 2018. Bristol, with its network of cycle ways, is undeniably the hub of UK cycling, boasting more than 300 cycle parking spaces and access to free-to-use bike pumps, making cycling a healthy, cost effective and fun way to explore the vibrant city.

Due to a good working relationship formed over many years through a variety of projects, Bristol City Design Group commissioned Charcon to assist with the design, development and implementation of a bespoke cycle kerb for use throughout the City's cycle ways, to accommodate a wide range of users and ensure the safety of cyclists and pedestrians.

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To ensure greater accessibility for those who are less mobile, there were numerous consultations between Bristol City Council, notably RNIB and Bristol Physical Access Chain (BPAC), to identify a kerb that would be suitable and ensure the safety of all users. Also taken into consideration was that Bristol has a rich and eclectic combination of architectural styles in a densely urbanised centre, with the majority of buildings having shallow cellars and an intricate network of service utilities with limited excavation depth to work to.

When designing this bespoke kerb, Charcon worked to unique specifications that the kerbs should be a standard 125mm kerb width to ease transition into standard highway design. The design also featured a 50mm up stand, to give a clear height differentiation between the footway and the cycle route for stick users and guide dogs. A 30' angle was chosen for the safety of long cane users and also to provide a manageable transition for those in wheelchairs. As a result, the finished project maximised accessibility for cyclists and pedestrians alike.

Mark Ashton, Specification Manager within Aggregate Industries' Concrete Products Division, said: "Our flexibility to accommodate the client's needs and requirements set us apart from other competitors/manufacturers. Due to the implementation of this bespoke kerb, Bristol now has a safer shared space between cyclists and pedestrians within the City."

(MH/JG)