Have your say on the new Leeds City Centre Cycle Superhighway Proposals

Consultation is about to begin to get people's views on the next phase of proposed Cycle Superhighways in Leeds.

As part of the CityConnect2 programme, the scheme proposes to expand the Cycle Superhighway network in Leeds City Centre, and build on the recently-opened 23km Cycle Superhighway (CS1) from Bradford, to Leeds and to Seacroft.

The ambition within Leeds is to provide approximately 10km of segregated Cycle Superhighways and the CityConnect2 proposals would deliver part of this.

The routes being proposed are;

• an extension into Leeds city centre of the Cycle Superhighways (CS 1 & 2);
• a southern Superhighway to Elland Road;
• a City Cycle Loop consisting of a segregated cycle route around the City Centre;
• a link from the City Cycle Loop to the emerging Education Quarter in the south of the City.

These proposals have been designed to create a safe and attractive environment for cycling in Leeds City Centre for people cycling to and from work and making leisure journeys by bike.

The scheme would include full segregation from general traffic for cyclists as well as improved crossing facilities for pedestrians. They would also mean the introduction of some changes to the movement of traffic and to on-street parking.

Leeds City Council executive member for regeneration, transport and planning Councillor Richard Lewis said: “We are keen to find out people’s views on the next phase of the cycle superhighway, which would boost cycling infrastructure in the city centre and to the south, encouraging people of all ages to cycle safely, boosting their health and helping to improve the environment in Leeds through reducing vehicle journeys. So we would encourage people to take part in this consultation by giving their feedback or attending one of the drop-in sessions which will be taking place.”

Cllr Keith Wakefield, Chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Transport Committee said: “West Yorkshire Combined Authority, the LEP and our partners are committed to developing an integrated ‘Metro-style’ transport network and cycling will be a key element of that network.

“Just last month we opened the first stage of the north’s first cycle superhighway, linking Bradford and Leeds and I would urge people to get involved in this consultation as well as our three-month yourtravelyoursay consultations on buses and the wider transport network.”

Consultation events will be held at;

Wellington House, Wellington Street, Tuesday 9th August, from 11am to 2pm and 4pm to 7pm,
Briggate, Wednesday 10th August, from 10.30am to 2pm and 4pm to 7pm, -

St Matthew’s Community Centre, St Matthews Street, Monday 15th August, from 11am to 2pm and 5.30pm to 7pm.

People are invited to come along to these events and provide their feedback on the proposals but they can also take part by clicking here.

Online consultation will begin on Monday 1st August and information about the proposed scheme can be found on the CityConnect website here.

The consultation period will end on the 9th September 2016.

Earlier this year we reported how the £18m flagship cycling route that is just 75cm wide in places has been condemned as “hazardous” and a compelling case for national design standards, as images seen by road.cc show cycle tracks that force cyclists to give way at every side road, with bollards and railings along the way, at times sandwiched between parked cars and a narrow pavement.

The brand new Leeds-Bradford Cycle Superhighway, a 23km route linking the two cities, and paid for by government Cycle City Ambition Fund money, has proven a disappointment for campaigners who say the government’s lack of leadership on design standards is responsible for a route that puts cyclists into conflict with motor traffic, bus users and pedestrians along its length.

Ken Spence, a managing consultant at Transport Initiatives, an independent transport planning consultancy, is among those critical of the route, which he says demonstrates a fundamental reluctance to reallocate road space from motor traffic. He shared a number of photographs of the route with road.cc highlighting, among other things, narrow bus stop bypasses alongside narrow pavements.

He said: “Cycle Connect (CC) is OK in parts, but the whole is incoherent and in some places downright hazardous. The biggest losers from this will be pedestrians and bus users who are thrown into conflict with CC users at many bus stops.

“The attention to detail is woeful, all those abrupt angles and errant bollards. Also there seems to be no appreciation of how cyclists will get onto the CC from side roads, particularly turn right onto it. The thought seems to be that you’ll just materialise on it.”