News / cycling
£3.6m funding for new walking and cycling improvements
New segregated cycle lane and dozens of new bike hangars are coming to the Bristol area thanks to new government funding.
Metro mayor Dan Norris announced he has secured £3.6m which he hopes will boost both cycling and walking across the West of England.
Norris says that the focus will be to encourage people to travel by bike “for those shorter everyday journeys”.
A press release from the West of England Combined Authority said that the metro mayor “wants to make it easier and more secure to park your bike which is why there will be new and upgraded facilities in the Old City, as well as a whole range of improvements for pedestrians”.
There will also be 80 new cycle hangars across Bristol, Bath & North East Somerset and South Glos.
Bike hangars like this one in St Werburgh’s could become a familiar sight across the city – photo: Martin Booth
The money will be spent to improve cycle lanes, “with plans to deliver new and improved cycle routes and tracks on Deanery Road and the Malago Greenway, as well as walking and cycling improvements linking Redcross Street to Braggs Lane, in the offing”.
There is also set to be “a much-improved” cycling route between Warmley and Longwell Green.
The Malago Greenway runs beside the River Malago – photo: Martin Booth
Norris said: “If we are going to cut the jams and reduce pollution, one tool in our arsenal has to be more cycling and walking.
“To be the natural choice, getting on a bike has to be a safe, pleasant and convenient experience. Cycling shouldn’t be the preserve of the lyrca-clad super fit, but for as many people as possible.
“That means segregated cycle lanes, so people feel safe, and somewhere secure to lock up your bike – plus much, much more.
“Winning this cash is testament to the confidence in the plan we have here in the West of England to make walking and cycling the natural choice for shorter everyday journeys.
“This is another step along that path as we take the action necessary to try to reach our really ambitious West of England net-zero target.”
Deanery Road takes pedestrians and cyclists towards College Green – photo: Martin Booth
Main photo: Martin Booth
Read next:
- ‘We need a total overhaul in approach to cycling in Bristol’
- New segregated cycle lane proposed for notoriously dangerous road
- Are Bristol’s streets safe enough for cycling?
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