A consultation has been launched on two £500,000 schemes to encourage more active travel, one of which would see the experimental closure of North Road to through traffic.
Half a million pounds of government funding is set to be used to allow residents greater opportunity to walk and cycle between parts of the city, with “improvements” planned for the Upper Bristol Road and to and from the University of Bath via North Road.
The Active Travel Funding programme, which was launched by the Department for Transport in May in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, is providing money to allow local authorities to implement temporary highway schemes to aid social distancing and enable more journeys via walking and cycling by reallocating road space.
The consultation launched by Bath & North East Somerset Council also includes a scheme between the University of Bath and Combe Down, with views being sought on improving the strategic cycling network.
City centre to University of Bath cycle route scheme
- An eastbound cycle lane in Beckford Road using bollards and splitter islands to separate cyclists from motor vehicles.
- An experimental closure of North Road to through traffic (except buses and taxis) to provide a “largely” traffic-free route.
- An off-road link for cyclists between North Road and The Avenue.
- A new segregated cycle path constructed on the existing closed section of The Avenue between its junctions with Beech Avenue and Norwood Avenue.
A4 Upper Bristol Road segregated cycle lanes scheme
- The installation of new cycle lanes on both sides of Upper Bristol Road between its junctions with Charlotte Street and Midland Road.
- The use of bollards and splitter islands to separate cyclists from motor traffic and bypasses at bus stops, so that cyclists can remain within the cycle lane even if there is a stationary bus.
Councillor Joanna Wright, joint cabinet member for Transport Services, said: “We have been awarded £500,000 government funding which is coming through the West of England Combined Authority to fund active travel routes.
“Today we are setting out our consultation plan for two proposed routes. The plan shows when more detailed information on each scheme will be available and how people can take part to have their say early in the New Year.
“The schemes introduced under the first tranche of Department for Transport Funding and the routes we are proposing along Upper Bristol Road and North Road contribute to our wider plans to make walking and cycling more convenient, safer and help us to live healthier lives.”
More information on the consultation and proposed schemes can be found on the B&NES Council website here.
