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York City Council calls for comments on bike-friendly traffic changes

Range of options being studied for junction seen as hazardous to cyclists

Over 700 people in York have responded to a call for consultation on proposed changes to one of the city’s biggest junctions, considered one of the city’s most dangerous points for cyclists, which could see traffic lanes replaced by cycle routes.

City of York Council has invited comments regarding potential changes to the junction of Queen Street, Nunnery Lane and Blossom Street, where there have been 31 recorded accidents during the last five years, nine involving cyclists.

Options under consideration for the project, which will cost between £475,000 and £575,000, to be met by Cycle City funding, also include putting in new pedestrian crossings, and the plans have been welcomed by cyclists and neighbouring schools.

Drivers have been less enthusiastic, however, claiming that any changes to the junction will cause increased traffic congestion.

Since consultation opened on 21 January, responses have flooded in from the public, both by post and email.

Councillor Steve Galloway, the council’s Executive Member for City Strategy, told The York Press: “We are trying to open up choices, especially for pedestrians and cyclists. None of these options will be popular with everybody, but we are asking people to take an objective view.”

The deadline for the consultation is March 26, and before then a public exhibition will be held at Nunnery Lane car park on February 25 and 26. The proposed plans will also be displayed at council offices at 9 St Leonard's Place and Askham Bar Park & Ride.

Anyone needing a questionnaire should contact Richard Holland on 01904 551401 or visit the appropriate page on the council website, which also gives full details of the proposals.

Meanwhile, the council is reportedly considering another new route for cyclists and pedestrians, which would run from York Station to Holgate Road via Lowther Terrace, meaning that they would not have to use Blossom Street.

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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