Calls are mounting for a new cycle route running between Sherwood and West Bridgford. Cyclists say they "don't feel safe" travelling on Nottingham's roads which are typically very busy throughout each and every day.
A campaign group called North-South Active Travelway revealed its plans towards the end of last year. It was understood Nottingham City Council had engaged in conversations with the group.
Its plans state the route would ideally run from Sherwood, through Carrington, Mapperley Park, Forest Fields and along Mansfield Road, before continuing past Nottingham Railway Station, through the Meadows, past Meadow Lane, over Trent Bridge and into West Bridgford. One cyclist says the conditions on the existing infrastructure "are very hostile riding on your own north to south or vice versa".
The campaign to get the route established was pushed further towards the goal recently, when a group of cyclists traced the route from Sherwood, before ending at the Brian Clough statue. Simultaneously, riders also travelled from West Bridgford to the statue where they met in the middle.
Roughly 20 people took part on the southbound ride, and a dozen travelled northbound, on August 4.
Samuel Shoesmith, 29, who took part in the ride, told Nottinghamshire Live: “As a lone rider, travelling along Mansfield Road is not nice and sometimes I don’t feel safe. It goes to show that if there was a safe way of travelling, a dedicated and segregated active travel way people would be inclined to cycle.
"There needs to be infrastructure built which would enable and encourage more cycling. Build it and they will come.
"We know cycling is good for everyone. It is good for the individual’s mental and physical health, for the environment, for your pocket, no rising fuel prices for cycling, and generally for society.
"Studies have shown that cycle lanes near shops increase the spend as people are likely to stop off and spend with more regularity. A dedicated lane would also make the environment more pleasant for people walking as they are further away from the motor traffic."
The campaign group added: "Without a safe and direct route linking these parts of Nottingham it is felt that the number of commuters travelling by bicycle is unlikely to increase. The lack of appropriate active travel provision currently deters many people who would like to cycle but do not feel safe on Nottingham’s busy roads."
New cycle routes have recently been paved past the new Broad Marsh Bus Station and Car Park and the city council says it shares the ambitions of the group.
The council added: "We are in discussions with the group and certainly share their aspirations to encourage more cycling and walking and for improvements to cross-city routes.
"The route they are proposing is within our strategic cycle network plans and we are working on some aspects of this, including segregated cycling facilities along a section of Mansfield Road funded through the Transforming Cities programme, and work around the Broad Marsh area to greatly improve how pedestrians and cyclists move across and around the city centre which is currently underway.
"We also have Future High Street funding in place for improvements which will support north–south movements across the city centre and are looking at improvements funded from our Active Travel Fund to improve connections to the recently upgraded route along Arkwright Walk connecting the city centre with Trent Bridge and beyond. We are also exploring other funding opportunities which would support the aims of this group.”
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