News / Transport
Commissioner praises Bristol’s pedestrian-friendly progress
On Thursday, Chris Boardman, the national active travel commissioner joined metro mayor Helen Godwin and the deputy leader of Bristol City Council, Heather Mack, for a walking tour of pedestrian-friendly routes in central Bristol.
The visit followed news earlier in July that Godwin and ten other regional mayors had pledged to create a “new national walking, wheeling and cycling network” and news in June that the West of England is to receive £752m in transport funding, a shift from previous funding cuts from central government.
Godwin commented: “Our partnership is really important – it’s integral to all we want to do in terms of placemaking, putting active travel as the primary way of getting round our region.”
“We’re not punishing motorists – it’s about the balance. It’s about people who need to use their cars still being able to do that but, where possible to put in active travel routes.”
The walk began on Victoria Street, which is currently undergoing construction to add a segregated two-way cycle lane. This is part of a larger project to improve the A37/A4018 transport corridor and make the area more pedestrian and cyclist-friendly.
The new cycle lane will connect to existing cycle routes from Bristol Bridge to Temple Gate.
On Thursday, the national active travel commissioner Chris Boardman joined the metro mayor and deputy leader of Bristol City Council for a walking tour of pedestrian-friendly routes in central Bristol
Many of these construction projects are being funded by the West of England Combined Authority, the city council and Active Travel England (ATE), the government’s executive agency responsible for “making walking, wheeling and cycling the preferred choice for everyone to get around in England“.
As national active travel commissioner, Boardman heads the agency. He previously held the position of transport commissioner for Greater Manchester and Greater Manchester cycling and walking commissioner.
Boardman emphasised: “Making more provisions for people to cycle and walk is essentially about culture-change.”
When asked about messaging surrounding decreasing traffic and encouraging active travel, Boardman admitted, “that’s one thing we have been poor at for many, many years. When Low Traffic Neighbourhoods are mentioned it’s a sharp intake of breath for people.
“But, imagine if we had started calling them Child Safe Zones and did not allow it to become reduced to an acronym.”
The national active travel commissioner said he thinks “Bristol’s doing some sensational work”
After spending time on Victoria Street, Boardman, Godwin and Mack walked over Bristol Bridge and continued down Baldwin Street and into the Old City
Heather Mack, deputy leader of the city council, deemed the progress made on Bristol Bridge to be one of the most notable recent developments for active travel in Bristol.
“Now there are bus gates, you can see so much more walking, so much more cycling,” she said. “Stopping here, it’s so busy now. Cars find an alternative route – walking and cycling in the centre is really important.”
Mack highlighted the need for continued support from central government, stating: “We need to continue making a really strong case that we are committed to doing what we can locally.”
Boardman, Godwin and Mack continued down King Street, leading out to the city centre, to look at the freshly resurfaced and painted cycle lane which was recently opened.
After Broad Quay, the route continued down Prince Street to showcase ongoing work on Prince Street Bridge, where upcoming plans will give more space to cyclists and pedestrians.
Passing Queens Square, the walk ended at Redcliffe Bridge, giving Boardman, Godwin and Mack a view of not only improved cycle lanes across the bridge, but of the Spanish galleon Andalucía that recently came to Bristol.
While standing at Redcliffe Bridge, Boardman commented: “There are tough decisions to be made, and what I see in Bristol is a leadership of people who are actually doing hard stuff. For example, the bridge behind us here, the space around the Harbour, is now prioritising the people.”
Boardman is a former professional cyclist and Olympic gold medallist.
He emphasised the importance of safe spaces for cyclists in cities such as Bristol, and noted a clear shift in the centre.
He said: “I was here two years ago, watching a lot of work. Today I have come back and watched a lot of that work being completed. I’m watching really good use of design – lots of space, good segregation and things that make people feel safe.
“I think Bristol’s doing some sensational work.”
Looking to the future, the central government and the ATE have backed local plans for six new School Streets and 22 more cycle hangars.
Godwin emphasised the importance of safety around schools. She said: “We have school streets projects across the region already but, working with Chris and his team, we want to try and expand to school safe zones.”
Proposals to invest in Staple Hill and Kingswood have also secured the endorsement of the metro mayor.
All photos: Isabel Fraser
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