Work has started today (4 January 2021) on a new 1.5km segregated cycle lane, which will provide a further boost for West Yorkshire’s growing network.
The construction of a new cycle lane on Dewsbury Road, Leeds, is part of a £6.9m package of new infrastructure delivered through the Combined Authority’s CityConnect programme, which is aimed at enabling more people to travel by bike or on foot, in partnership with Leeds City Council.
The Dewsbury Road scheme will extend the existing segregated cycle route with a 1.5km section of new route between Garnet Road and Beeston Ring Road.
Work is already underway on a new 3km segregated cycling route between Elland Road Park and Ride and the city centre, and a segregated cycling and walking route on Claypit Lane is near completion.
The work to improve Clay Pit Lane for people travelling by bike and on foot between north Leeds and the city centre includes a 1.3km segregated route between Chapeltown Road and Woodhouse Lane.
The new section will link to existing routes on Meanwood Road and provide people with a safer crossing over the Inner Ring Road.
Importantly, the scheme also includes a new continuous route for people travelling on foot into the northern part of the city centre.
Cllr Kim Groves, Chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority Transport Committee, said:
“Enabling increasing numbers of us to travel by bike and on foot is more important than ever, not only as we look to address the health, transport and economic challenges created by Covid-19, but also in helping us achieve our aim of becoming a net zero carbon economy by 2038.
“These important schemes will provide communities in Beeston, Holbeck and Hunslet, as well as those in the north of the city, with high-quality cycling and walking routes and the Dewsbury Road scheme will provide an important missing link in the existing network to create a continuous 4.4km segregated route for south Leeds.
“From connecting people across our region, to reducing air pollution and congestion, and combatting physical inactivity and obesity, we know getting more people cycling and walking has a vital role to play in making West Yorkshire a great place to live and work.”
Councillor Lisa Mulherin, Leeds City Council’s Executive Member for Climate Change, Transport and Sustainable Development, said:
“During these difficult times, we’re working hard to make walking and cycling more attractive and natural everyday choices for exercising and commuting.
“We’re delighted we are bringing the construction phase of these schemes forward for new segregated cycle routes south of the city connecting Beeston, Holbeck, Hunslet and the city centre, as well as important work on Clay Pit Lane and Meanwood Road. Every new piece of segregated cycleway in Leeds gets us nearer to the 500 miles of cycle network we are aiming to deliver across the city.
“In this Covid-19 recovery phase, Leeds is creating many more new routes which offer improved safety for people who walk and cycle, offering convenience and championing health and wellbeing for our residents. Alongside improved segregated cycleways the scheme will improve the environment for pedestrians. This work funded through CityConnect will improve environmental sustainability, better air quality and reduce pollution of all types in and around Leeds. We look forward to seeing the schemes completed later this year.”
These projects have received £6.5m from the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP), delivered in partnership with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, through the Leeds City Region Growth Deal – a £1billion package of Government investment to accelerate growth and create jobs across Leeds City Region.
This work will build on the Bradford Leeds Cycle Superhighway, which opened in 2016, as well as the additional 4km of segregated routes that opened in summer 2019 connecting the eastern and western sections of the cycle superhighway with the city centre.
It also plays a significant part of Leeds City Council Connecting Leeds “Cycling Starts Here” ambition to create 500 miles of safer cycling routes across the city.
A public consultation on these schemes, including drop-in events at community venues, was held in summer 2019.
The West Yorkshire Combined Authority is working in partnership with local authorities to deliver a package of measures, including new cycling and walking infrastructure, to help people move around the region safely in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
This work includes £12.5 million of short and longer-term schemes, which are being funded through the Government’s Active Travel Fund.
From route information to support for businesses, find out how CityConnect can help you cycle and walk more at www.cyclecityconnect.co.uk.
This post is based on a press release issued by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority
Absolutely disgracefull Wesley street closed for cycle Lane at Elland Road at the same time traffic horrendous x
Dewsbury Road is now a nightmare for local residents. Cannot move anywhere. There will be a serious accident before long. All these roads in South Leeds disrupted when we’re being advised only to use public transport if essential. Great weather to cycle in if you have a bike, and young enough!!!
As a driver, cyclist and pedestrian living in South Leeds I recognise it’s impossible to undertake road works without some disruption. However I think we need to understand and accept this short-term inconvenience stands to bring long-term benefits to the area overall and to the physical and mental health of South Leeds residents – whether cyclists or not. Speaking with my cycling helmet on though, I hope that more effort will be made to segregate the cycle routes from both pedestrian and cars.
I’m a confident cyclist – at 63 I have been cycling since I was 6 in urban and rural areas. I use cycle lanes where they exist and the road where they don’t. One of the problems though is that many existing lanes are discontinuous and often they are actually shared spaces with pedestrians, who don’t always realise that they are on a shared path with cycles. In fairness, it can be quite confusing as a cyclist too. There’s also an issue with cyclists on shared paths going too fast & not having or using a bell. Cyclists riding on the pavement are intimidating and potentially highly dangerous for pedestrians.
The biggest concern for cyclists, and people who would like to cycle, of all ages, is the behaviour of some drivers who seem to have no idea how much space they should give cyclists (at least 2 metres when passing, more if the cyclist appears at all unconfident and in windy weather), or who don’t see us (even when we’re lit up like Christmas trees) or – worst of all – are deliberately aggressive to cyclists using the road. It’s worth bearing in mind that cyclists do have a right to use the road, even when there is a designated path, and that advice for safe cycling is that cyclists should stay well away from the kerb .
So I welcome these road works. I’m quite sure that proper, safe, segregated cycle paths, with safe crossings, will encourage more people, including children, to cycle for business, school, commuting and pleasure. South Leeds stands to reap the benefits in improved air quality, quieter roads, and enhanced physical and mental health.
the council wasting money again nobody uses the cycle lanes they just ride on the path
Cycle tracks are off carriageway areas which a cyclists can choose to use if they so wish but if they choose to cycle on the adjacent carriageway they can do that too! Its not obligatory to use a cycle track.
I think the £6.9 million the WYCA have spent on this project alone would be a little more palatable for the motorists / tax payers of this City if cyclist were forced by law to use these facilities where provided or risk being fined just as a motorist would be for driving on footway and not the carriageway.
As the carriageway has been reduced to create this space for cyclists specifically then why should the cyclist not contribute to the tracks upkeep by way of a tax similiar to the motrists road tax? Personally I think this scheme is only going to add to an already congested Dewsbury Road and this will be compounded further if the council choose to go ahead and introduce the Cross Flatts Active Travel Scheme.
The scheme at the bottom of Dewsbury Road intorduced a couple of years ago has created a number of bottlenecks causing huge tailbacks at peak times which we know is not good for pollution levels. As for the cycle track I don’t see many cyclist using it, ‘Build it and they will come’ does not always work!
I totally agree. Most of the cycle lanes at the bottom of Dewsbury Road are being utilised. Not by cyclists but Private Hire Companies using the footpaths and cycle lanes as on street car parks.