Agenda item

Report of the Director of Transportation and Highways

The Cabinet Member for City Services considered a report of the Director of Transportation and Highways that sought approval to create sections of off carriageway cycle route by designating short sections of footway as ‘cycle track’ utilising the Council’s powers under the Highways Act.

Through the government’s active travel funding programme, a number of cycle routes were being developed across the city responding to an increase in cycling activity that has taken place during the Covid-19 pandemic. The aim was to provide alternative transport options during a period when public transport capacity had been limited due to social distancing requirements, and people had been encouraged to cycle where possible to access work, education and essential services and for recreation. 

Options for the provision of a temporary route between Upper Well Street in the City Centre and the Canal Basin on Leicester Row had been considered. The design of the Canal Basin Bridge across the ring road limited opportunities for social distancing due to the narrow bridge deck and lack of passing places. Alternative options for a cycle route across the ring road had therefore been considered and the preferred option included widening a section of footway from Leicester Row to Ringway St Nicholas for shared use (by both cycles and pedestrians).  The footway on Ringway St Nicholas was also widened and this included a section with segregation for people walking and cycling. The connection under the Ring Road at Junction 9 was facilitated by designating the footway between the slip roads for shared use.  Access into the city centre was facilitated by designating a section of footway build out on Upper Well Street and the adjacent refuge for shared use. 

Options for the provision of a cycle route on Charter Avenue between the A45 and Sir Henry Parkes Road, improving access by cycle to the University of Warwick campus, had also been considered.  The eastbound carriageway was considered less suitable as width was limited due to on street parking bays.  The preferred option was the westbound carriageway with connecting paths at either end. The preferred and recommended option included designating a section of footway for shared use at the eastern end of the route between Cannon Hill Road and Charter Avenue and at the western end of the route from Charter Avenue to Sir Henry Parkes Road.

The off-carriageway parts of the routes would be created using Sections 65 and 66 of the Highways Act 1980, changing the footway to cycle track, so that it could be used by both cycles and pedestrians. Under the Highways Act 1980, a "Cycle Track" meant a way that carried a right of way on pedal cycles and/or on foot.

RESOLVED that the Cabinet Member for City Services:

1)  Approves the conversion of a section of footway between Leicester Row and Ringway St Nicholas to cycle track under sections 65 and 66 of the Highways Act 1980 as shown in Figure 1 of the report.

2)  Approves the conversion of a section of footway between the slip roads on Ringway St Nicholas to cycle track under sections 65 and 66 of the Highways Act 1980 as shown in Figure 1 of the report.

3)  Approves the conversion of a section of footway at the junction of Lamb Street/Upper Well Street to cycle track under sections 65 and 66 of the Highways Act 1980 as shown in Figure 1 of the report.

4)  Approves the conversion of a section of footway on refuge on Upper Well Street to cycle track under sections 65 and 66 of the Highways Act 1980 as shown in Figure 1 of the report.

5)  Approves the conversion of a section of footway at the Cannon Hill Road/Charter Avenue junction to cycle track under sections 65 and 66 of the Highways Act 1980 as shown in Figure 2 of the report.

6)  Approves the conversion of a section of footway between Charter Avenue and Sir Henry Parkes Road to cycle track under sections 65 and 66 of the Highways Act 1980 as shown in Figure 3 of the report.