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 make a temporary cycle route permanent, linking the city centre to Coventry Canal Basin from Upper Well Street to Leicester Row, by creating sections of segregated ‘cycle track’ utilising the Council’s powers under the Highways Act.  The report also sought approval to create a shared ‘cycle track’ from Draper’s Field to the Canal Towpath entrance on Leicester Row and from Friargate Boulevard to Greyfriars Road to connect to the station.  This formed part of a cycle route from the station to the canal towpath for the Commonwealth Games.

The report noted that ‘Cycle Track’ had a legal definition pursuant to Section 329 of the Highways Act 1980.  Options for the provision of a permanent route between Upper Well Street in the City Centre and the Canal Basin on Leicester Row had been considered.  This was necessary as cycling was not permitted across the Canal Basin Bridge due to the narrow bridge deck.  A previous scheme had been proposed to provide a crossing of the Ring Road but had been rejected.

The preferred options were detailed in the report as figures 1 to 3.  Figure 1 in the report created a permanent 2-way cycle track on Upper Well Street Lamb Street junction, Ringway Junction 9, Ringway St Nicholas anti-clockwise off slip (nearside lane) and Ringway St Nicholas clockwise on slip (nearside lane). This retained 2 vehicle lanes on the anti-clockwise off slip and one lane on the clockwise on slip as now.  The Canal Towpath provided a route for visitors to access the Commonwealth Games.  There was only one access point to the Canal Towpath from Leicester Row, so the option shown in figure 2 in the report converted a section of footway from Draper’s Field to Leicester Row to cycle track.  To assist visitors to the Commonwealth Games a designated cycle route was proposed across Greyfriars Green and provided a more direct route for people cycling.  The preferred option shown in figure 3 converted a section of footway (Freemans Way) between Friargate Boulevard and Warwick Row to cycle track.

The temporary route was established through the government’s Emergency Active Travel Fund programme. The canal basin connection scheme was developed as a temporary measure under an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) and no objections were received to it being made permanent. The barriers on Radford Road and the roundabout would no longer be required in the permanent scheme.  If approval was given for these designations, the appropriate signage and infrastructure would be implemented in the 2022/23 financial year.

The Shadow Cabinet Member and Deputy Cabinet Member discussed with officers the promotion of the routes, cycling data collection and the consultation.

Officers reported that promoting cycling routes was a priority, technology for data collection was improving and there had been no objections to the proposals.  Councillor Heaven was invited to join officers on a visit to the Cycle Routes.

The Cabinet Member was positive about connecting cycleways across the City and the benefits of enabling safe alternative transport to cars for residents and visitors.  

RESOLVED that the Cabinet Member for City Services approve the creation of the cycle tracks shown in figures 1, 2 and 3 in the report.