Stage 3: Assessing the quality of the impacts and identifying opportunities to promote equality
Having considered the data and evidence you have gathered, this section requires you to consider the potential impacts – negative and positive – that your policy might have on each of the protected characteristics. It is important to remember the duty is also a positive one – that we must explore whether the policy offers the opportunity to promote equality and/or foster good relations.
The updated Cycling by Design guidance recognises that disabled people, in particular people who have impaired mobility, and those who are visually or cognitively impaired may face additional barriers to participation in cycling and as pedestrians when interacting with cycling infrastructure. The guidance aims to follow the principles of inclusive design and allow accessible infrastructure to be designed for those users who have lower rates of participation in cycling.
A broad body of evidence has been considered throughout the development of the guidance, and during the EQIA. While the impact of the guidance itself can be limited due to the fact it is design guidance for cycling infrastructure and not a wider policy document, it is important that all direct and indirect impacts are fully considered and their impacts assessed.
The updated Cycling by Design guidance considers users who face issues with access to cycling infrastructure, and sets out specific actions to provide positive impacts for these users. At all stages of the development of the guidance, and for all future monitoring and evaluation stages, the impact on protected characteristics has and will continue to be considered.
Do you think that the policy impacts on people because of their age?
Eliminating unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation
No impact.
The Cycling by Design guidance has, after consultation, been designed in such a way that it will not create unlawful discrimination and will not preclude users of different age groups from using the infrastructure.
Advancing equality of opportunity
Positive impact.
The guidance aims to provide positive changes for older and younger people by considering a wide range of cycle users’ requirements. The guidance sets out three key elements to be considered that may influence the needs of cycle users. These are the type of user, their typical journey purpose and the type of cycle vehicle they use for the trip.
The guidance sets requirements that will allow the development of facilities which attract novice users, such as young children, older people and those learning to cycle. For these types of users, safety is the primary requirement – with the guidance identifying that quiet routes, quiet streets and off-carriageway facilities are essential.
The guidance also sets requirements for those who are more likely to undertake journeys for leisure or who cycle less regularly, with safety and convenience being at the heart of the requirements.
The proportion of adults with a long-term limiting mental or physical health condition or disability is increasing as the population ages. As a result of this, cycle infrastructure must be designed to be accessible and attractive to those with reduced mobility.
The guidance includes information on a range of ‘non-standard’ cycle vehicles, requiring designers to consider the potential for each of these cycle vehicles to use the infrastructure they design. These include handcycles, recumbent bikes, tandem bikes and wheelchair user tricycles. The increased size of these vehicles can influence widths and other geometry on cycle facilities and the guidance is expanded to accommodate these needs.
Promoting good relations among and between different age groups
Positive impact.
The design and implementation of high-quality cycle infrastructure will encourage people to make more journeys by cycle and attract more people to see cycling as a realistic option for everyday journeys. The guidance considers a wide range of cycle users’ requirements, which inform the Core Design Principles of the guidance and ensure that designers can meet the needs of potential as well as existing cycle users.
Do you think that the policy impacts disabled people?
Eliminating unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation
No impact.
The Cycling by Design guidance has, after consultation, been designed in such a way that it will not create unlawful discrimination and will not preclude users with disabilities from using the infrastructure.
Advancing equality of opportunity
Positive impact.
The guidance aims to provide positive impacts for people with disabilities, by considering a wide range of disabled cycle users and disabled pedestrian requirements. The aim of the guidance is to produce infrastructure which offers a high level of service for all users including younger children, accompanied cycle users, those new to cycling and disabled cycle users.
The guidance sets out three key elements to be considered that may influence the needs of cycle users. These are the type of user, their typical journey purpose and the type of cycle vehicle they use for the trip.
The proportion of adults with a long-term limiting mental or physical health condition or disability is increasing as the population ages, which means that cycle infrastructure must be accessible and attractive to people with reduced mobility.
The guidance sets out key messages of “fully connected networks”, which are “fully accessible” and “intuitive for all who use it”. Routes should be continuous from an origin to a destination, increasing permeability of neighbourhoods for those with reduced mobility.
The guidance sets out how cycle lanes should interact with disabled parking spaces, where passengers may need access to an adjacent footway or amenity.
The guidance includes information on a range of ‘non-standard’ cycle vehicles, requiring designers to consider the potential for each of these cycle vehicles to use the infrastructure they design. These include handcycles, recumbent bikes, tandem bikes and wheelchair user tricycles. The increased size of these vehicles can influence widths and other geometry on cycle facilities and the guidance is expanded to accommodate these cycles.
The guidance emphasises the importance of engaging with relevant interested parties and undertaking EQIA during scheme development to consider the needs of all users.
Promoting good relations among and between disabled and non-disabled people
Positive impact.
The design and implementation of high-quality cycle infrastructure will encourage people to make more journeys by cycle and attract more people to see cycling as a realistic option for everyday journeys. The guidance considers a wide range of cycle user’s requirements, which inform the Core Design Principles of the guidance and ensure that designers can meet the needs for both disabled and non-disabled cycle users.
The guidance considers the interaction between cycle users and pedestrians, with a preference for separation between pedestrian and cycle movements unless interaction levels are low.
Do you think that the policy impacts on men and women in different ways?
Eliminating unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation
No impact.
The Cycling by Design guidance has, after consultation, been designed in such a way that it will not create unlawful discrimination and will not preclude men or women from using the infrastructure.
Advancing equality of opportunity
Positive impact.
The guidance aims to provide positive changes for women cycling by considering a wide range of cycle users’ requirements. The guidance sets out three key elements to be considered that may influence the needs of cycle users. These are the type of user, their typical journey purpose and the type of cycle vehicle they use for the trip.
The guidance sets requirements that will allow the development of facilities which attract novice users and those learning to cycle – fewer women cycle so increasing attractiveness of facilities should increase uptake. For novice users, safety is the primary requirement – with the guidance identifying that quiet routes, quiet streets and off-carriageway facilities are essential.
The guidance also sets requirements for those who are more likely to undertake journeys for leisure or who cycle less regularly, with safety and convenience being at the heart of the requirements.
Promoting good relations between men and women
There are no specific positive or negative impacts related to promoting good relations between men and women within the scope of this design guidance.
Do you think that the policy impacts on women because of pregnancy and maternity?
Eliminating unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation
No impact.
The Cycling by Design guidance has, after consultation, been designed in such a way that it will not create unlawful discrimination and will not preclude users experiencing pregnancy/maternity from using the infrastructure.
Advancing equality of opportunity
No impact.
There are no specific positive or negative impacts related to advancing equality of opportunity for pregnancy and maternity within the scope of this design guidance.
Promoting good relations
No impact.
There are no specific positive or negative impacts related to promoting good relations with regards to pregnancy and maternity within the scope of this design guidance.
Do you think your policy impacts on people proposing to undergo, undergoing, or who have undergone a process for the purpose of reassigning their sex? (NB: the Equality Act 2010 uses the term ‘transsexual people’ but ‘trans people’ is more commonly used)
Eliminating unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation
No impact.
The Cycling by Design guidance has, after consultation, been designed in such a way that it will not create unlawful discrimination and will not preclude trans people from using the infrastructure.
Advancing equality of opportunity
No impact.
There are no specific positive or negative impacts related to advancing equality of opportunity for trans people within the scope of this design guidance.
Promoting good relations
No impact.
There are no specific positive or negative impacts related to promoting good relations with regards to trans people within the scope of this design guidance.
Do you think that the policy impacts on people because of their sexual orientation?
Eliminating unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation
No impact.
The Cycling by Design guidance has, after consultation, been designed in such a way that it will not create unlawful discrimination and will not preclude users with different sexual orientations from using the infrastructure.
Advancing equality of opportunity
No impact.
There are no specific positive or negative impacts related to advancing equality of opportunity for those of different sexual orientation within the scope of this design guidance.
Promoting good relations
No impact.
There are no specific positive or negative impacts related to promoting good relations between those of different sexual orientations within the scope of this design guidance.
Do you think that the policy impacts on people on the grounds of their race?
Eliminating unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation
No impact.
The Cycling by Design guidance has, after consultation, been designed in such a way that it will not create unlawful discrimination and will not preclude users of different race from using the infrastructure.
Advancing equality of opportunity
Positive impact.
The guidance aims to provide positive changes for black and ethnic minority people cycling by considering a wide range of cycle users’ requirements. The guidance sets out three key elements to be considered that may influence the needs of cycle users. These are the type of user, their typical journey purpose and the type of cycle vehicle they use for the trip.
The guidance sets requirements that will allow the development of facilities which attract novice users and those learning to cycle – black and minority ethnic people are less likely to cycle compared to white women and men so increasing attractiveness of facilities should increase uptake. For novice users, safety is the primary requirement – with the guidance identifying that quiet routes, quiet streets and off-carriageway facilities are essential.
The guidance also sets requirements for those who are more likely to undertake journeys for leisure or who cycle less regularly, with safety and convenience being at the heart of the requirements.
Promoting good relations
No impact.
There are no specific positive or negative impacts related to promoting good relations between different races within the scope of this design guidance.
Do you think that the policy impacts on people because of their religion or belief?
Eliminating unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation
No impact.
The Cycling by Design guidance has, after consultation, been designed in such a way that it will not create unlawful discrimination and will not preclude users because of their religion or belief from using the infrastructure.
Advancing equality of opportunity
No impact.
There are no specific positive or negative impacts related to advancing equality of opportunity for those of different religions and beliefs within the scope of this design guidance.
Promoting good relations
No impact.
There are no specific positive or negative impacts related to promoting good relations between those of different religions and beliefs within the scope of this design guidance.
Do you think the policy impacts on people because of their marriage or civil partnership?
In respect of this protected characteristic, a body subject to the Public Sector Equality Duty (which includes Scottish Government) only needs to comply with the first need of the duty (to eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation and any other conduct that is prohibited by or under the Equality Act 2010) and only in relation to work. This is because the parts of the Act covering services and public functions, premises, education etc. do not apply to that protected characteristic. Equality impact assessment within the Scottish Government does not require assessment against the protected characteristic of Marriage and Civil Partnership unless the policy or practice relates to work, for example HR policies and practices.
Eliminating unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation
Not Applicable.
Advancing equality of opportunity
Not Applicable.
Promoting good relations
Not Applicable.