A key gateway to West Leeds could get a new cycle lane – and link up with existing infrastructure down Kirkstall Road.
People are being asked for their views on plans for £7.06 million of new cycling routes across Leeds, as part of Leeds City Council’s plans aimed to encourage more people to travel by bike.
The new plans – called the ‘Western Gateway’ include aim to complete connectivity between existing facilities on the A65 Kirkstall Road with the segregated cycle routes on Wellington Street.
They’re part of the council’s plans to add 7kms of cycle lanes, including 3.2kms of segregated cycling to the Leeds city centre cycle network across five separate schemes.
Together, they will increase the length of continuous cycling infrastructure by linking up and filling in gaps to the existing and planned cycle network. The aim is to improve the connectivity to the city centre and access of the city-wide cycle network.
It’s hoped these schemes will also improve cycle access to Leeds railway station, enabling people to extend their trips by train across West Yorkshire and shorter trips within Leeds. Plus they will help encourage more trips to be made within the city centre, and surrounding areas.
The five schemes included (and shown on the map):
- Western Gateway: Kirkstall Road to Wellington Street (A65) and St Pauls Street. Completes connectivity between existing facilities on the A65 with the segregated cycle routes on Wellington Street.
- Southern Gateway: Neville Street and Bishopgate Street, with Dark Neville Street and Sovereign Street. Links the crossing of the River Aire to Leeds station and onwards connectivity to City Square. Will join-up the station and its new cycle hub, the canal towpath and on to Elland Road.
- Eastern Gateway: Lady Lane, Templar Street and Bridge Street. Links with existing high-quality cycling provision on A61 Regent Street to the city centre via the Headrow Gateway scheme.
- Crown Point Bridge Gateway: Black Bull Street and Crown Point Road. A link over the River Aire, in the south east of the city. Provides connectivity with the planned new cycle facilities on the A61 Hunslet Lane and existing cycle routes on Kirkgate and Duke Street.
- Holbeck Connector: Whitehall Road to Holbeck. This links communities in Holbeck to the city centre and the River Aire crossing
Councillor Lisa Mulherin, Leeds City Council’s executive member for climate change, transport and sustainable development, said:
“These new routes play a major part in our long-term Connecting Leeds cycling and transport ambition to provide safer and better connected routes. To enable and encourage more people to make the switch to cycling.
“As we begin to look ahead to recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and renew our focus on tackling the climate emergency and improving our health and wellbeing, every one of us needs to play our part in supporting the shift to sustainable transport and away from over-reliance on individual private cars to public transport, walking, cycling, car clubs and demand responsive transport.”
Between now and 21 February, people are encouraged to have their say online and to view all the plans via the Combined Authority’s Your Voice website.
Subject to the necessary approvals, construction is expected to start in spring 2021 and to be completed by March 2023.
The council is delivering the changes in partnership with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.
When are bikes going to use it, you spend all this money on the lanes and they still cycling on the main bit of road were the cars have, should be given a penalty ticket, like car drivers do for not complying