County Council announces schemes to encourage walking and cycling

This week Leicestershire County Council is starting to introduce ‘pop-up’ cycle lanes and other measures supporting walking and cycling.

The County’s website states that the cycle lanes are just part of a mix of temporary and permanent schemes which aim to encourage more people to walk and cycle on certain routes rather than taking public transport or using a motor vehicle.

From Wednesday (22nd July), the schemes, which will be introduced over an eight-week period, include:

Park and Pedal at Enderby…

• ‘Park and Pedal’ sites – New facilities will be available at Enderby and also at Meynell’s Gorse park and ride sites and at County Hall, Glenfield. New facilities include secure, overnight bike shelters;

• Leicester Forest East – Extending existing cycle lanes on the A47 Hinckley Road in both directions;

• Birstall – Creating a ‘pop-up’ cycle lane on the A6 Loughborough Road in both directions by removing central road markings, narrowing existing traffic islands and removing some of the islands. As an additional safety measure, there will also be a right-turn ban from the A6 between the Sibson Road/Greengate Lane junction and Red Hill Way roundabout;

• Market Harborough – Kettering Road’s existing cycle lanes will be widened, and traffic flow improved by installing temporary traffic signals;

The improvements are being introduced after the county council successfully bid for around £300,000 of funding from the Government’s £250m Emergency Active Travel Fund.

The council is also making a bid for a further £1.2m to roll-out more schemes.

More information on the works, including routes and maps, can be found at: www.leicestershire.gov.uk/covid-travel-fund

County Councillor Trevor Pendleton, cabinet member for highways and transport said: “Nationally, there’s been a 100 per cent increase in cycling and walking for leisure purposes as a result of the lockdown so the Council is keen for these positive behaviour-changes to continue.

“The County’s ‘safe and sustainable travel’ teams are working hard to continue developing this positive change, not only for the health of residents, but also for the environment.

“By making it easier for people to walk or cycle safely, we’re helping to make Leicestershire a greener, healthier and happier place to live.

“These changes being announced won’t be all of them.

“We want to support walking and cycling, more projects are in the pipeline and we would very much welcome suggestions for other changes”

The county council is really keen to hear from residents about local areas which they think would benefit from walking and cycling schemes.

Suggestions can be made at https://www.choosehowyoumove.co.uk/pop-up where routes, maps, and further support can also be accessed.