Plans for wider pavements, segregated cycle lanes and more one-way streets in Manchester city centre have been laid out as a new consultation is launched. Under the latest proposals, Deansgate would have a two-way cycle lane and Whitworth Street West would be closed off to cars along Deansgate Locks.
New crossings would be installed as part of the upgrades to the junction at the train station and along Deansgate, some side streets would be one-way only. Some parking spaces and unused or temporary bus stops would also be removed on parts of the main road which would offer less space to cars.
There are also plans for segregated cycle lanes near Piccadilly Station where eight new crossings - including one over the tram tracks - would be installed. Manchester council's executive member for environment Tracey Rawlins, said the public is in favour of reducing the number of cars in the city centre and making it easier for people to commute by bike, by foot or by public transport.
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She said: "Manchester has an ambitious goal of becoming zero carbon by 2038 and it is through schemes like the Active Travel Fund that we will encourage people to a long-term shift to more sustainable and green ways of travelling. I hope people will take the time to take part in this consultation and help shape a city centre which is cleaner and greener."
The City Centre Active Travel Scheme is split into two sections – Chester Road, Bridgewater Viadcut, Deansgate and Whitworth Street West, and another for Whitworth Street, Fairfield Street, Aytoun Street and London Road.
Two-way segregated cycle lanes and crossings are planned in both parts. Only buses, hackney carriages and cycles would be allowed on Whitworth Street West between Deansgate and Albion Street under the proposals.
And some parking spaces on Deansgate are set to disappear near Liverpool Road while bays would also be removed at Whitworth and Chorlton Street. A bus lane between Fairfield Street and Minshull Street would also be removed, but a new bus stop would be introduced along this route.
The plans have been revealed a week after a cyclist was taken to hospital with a life-threatening head injury following a car crash on Great Ancoats Street. The incident sparked anger among campaigners who called for cycle lanes to be created as part of the controversial £9m revamp of the city centre road.
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They criticised the council for not prioritising cycling and walking enough. However, the town hall promised that new plans which would improve cycling and walking in the city centre and make it safer would be published soon.
Responding to the latest plans, a spokesperson for campaign group Walk Ride GM said: "We are pleased to see the proposals to make walking, wheeling and cycling in the centre of Manchester safer and easier, and support them. The city has an ambition to be a walking city - with pedestrians top of the hierarchy of road users - but at the moment anyone trying to get about the centre under their own steam - on foot, in a wheelchair or with a mobility aid, or on a bike - face countless hurdles, from cluttered footways, to poor crossings, to pavement parking, to street layouts designed for cars and trams not people.
"These proposals are a significant step to helping people get from one part of the city to another more easily, more safely and more enjoyably and hopefully signal a step change in the development of the centre of Manchester. As more private vehicles are restricted fully or limited to resident access or deliveries only we will see the potential of the centre of Manchester open up even more, and stay in step with other great cities of Europe who are moving faster on this agenda than we have been."
The public consultation on the latest proposals will run until Monday, June 19. An online consultation event will take place via video conference using Microsoft Teams on Thursday, 26 May between 6.30pm and 7.30pm.
Members of the public can join by emailing atscitycentre@manchester.gov.uk and requesting a link before the online event and take part in the discussion. An in-person event will also be taking place on Wednesday, June 1 at the Friends Meeting House in Mount Street, M2 5NS, between 4pm and 7pm.
