Infrastructure

No plans for further changes on “optical illusion” cycle lane which claimed over 100 trip victims, despite cross-party councillors’ efforts

“I cannot see how an administration can preside over a development that has seriously injured over 100 people and do nothing,” said a councillor trying to convince the council to implement changes

13

David Attenborough encourages boy to stage anti-cycle lane protest, as veteran broadcaster weighs in on plans to “sacrifice 26 irreplaceable trees” for new bike route

More than 1,200 people have signed a petition urging the council to stop the cycling infrastructure project “immediately” – but the local authority says new trees will be planted in their place

38

Over 3,000 cyclists waiting for bike hangar space, as council aims to deliver parking infrastructure “suitable for larger bikes and cargo bikes”

Currently, more than 2,300 people are on the waitlist while 1,000 more have requested for a cycle hangar in their area, meaning the City of Edinburgh Council would need to install around 560 hangars to meet the demands

7

Residents “outraged by having to walk an extra few yards from their car” accused of “trying to stoke fear and opposition” against major cycle lane project

The cycle lane plan is one of eight projects that are part of a £17.5m town investment deal, but certain sections of the community have made familiar claims about disruption, lost parking and the impact on businesses

22

Bats to be given twice as much space as cyclists and pedestrians on “incredibly popular” shared path, as campaigners say new layout will be “too narrow” and “create safety issues”

Under the current plans, a six-metre-wide bat corridor will be created next to a new development, while a key traffic-free commuter route will be narrowed to three metres

18

Cyclists to be banned from Oxford Street as part of Sadiq Khan’s pedestrianisation plans, but could be allowed to cycle at night

Mayor of London’s office has confirmed that it’s working to provide “alternative routes and enhanced provision” for cyclists, in a bid to transform the high street into a “beautiful public space”

46

Locals call for “immediate pause” to “completely bonkers” 5-mile cycle lane that will threaten the area’s “unique aesthetic and character”, while raising questions over “need for the bike route”

Concerns have been raised over the degradation of ecology and the lack of consultation by the council, but the council claims to have conducted plenty of consultation and considered the potential impact on the environment

45

Over half of Londoners think councils prefer improving roads for drivers over safety of cyclists and pedestrians, as majority call for more Low Traffic Neighbourhoods and 20mph limits, new study finds

The survey also found that 88 per cent of the capital’s residents believe that cycle lanes should be compulsory when one is available

15

“Disappointed” cyclists forced to lock bikes on outdoor railings as Belfast’s new Grand Central Station opens with no cycle parking provisions

“This suggests that active travel is not a central part of this new transport hub,” said Belfast Cycling Campaign, as Translink confirms that it’s “sourcing” temporary cycle parking to install

8

Cyclists say they are being forced “into direct conflict with drivers” by holding up traffic or onto pavement with pedestrians, as petition calls on council to rethink “discriminatory, unsafe” decision to scrap cycle lane plans

Earlier this summer, the local authority announced that its proposals for the harbourside regeneration scheme would no longer include protected cycling infrastructure, in order to move a line of trees “closer to the kerb”

13

Irish Prime Minister slams €336,000 bike shed at Parliament with 18 cycle stands — where your bike may still get wet in the rain — as “inexcusable and inexplicable”, as government orders review into “astronomical costs”

The bike shed at Leinster House was built last year and has caused a furore in the Oireachtas, with ministers from all parties, including Minister of Transport Eamon Ryan questioning how were the costs justified

23

Campaigners accuse council of “ignoring evidence” after allowing traffic on bus and cycle lane which halved collision numbers and reduced journey times

After the decision taken by the Conservative-led council, the bus and cycle lane will be in operation from 7am to 7pm, but other road users will be able to use it outside of those times

10

“They wouldn’t walk onto a road, but a cycle track?” Cyclist badly injured trying to avoid pedestrian calls for greater protection on newly installed bike lane previously slammed as “hare-brained” by opponents

The local council, however, says the seafront infrastructure was “designed with safety as our top priority”, while other cyclists described the lane’s distinction between cycle and pedestrian zones as “gold standard”

58

Allowing “speeding” cyclists to ride on “struggling” high street would lead to “carnage” and “frighten” elderly, say traders opposed to lifting cycling ban in pedestrianised shopping area

A consultation is currently being carried out concerning a proposed 18-month two-way cycling trial, after plans to implement it this year were kiboshed after opposition from outspoken councillors

26

Average cycling distances in England fall to lowest levels in a decade: Government urged to deliver on active travel promises as think tank expert slams transport system as “broken and stacked against poorest in society”

According to the Department for Transport’s National Travel Survey, people in England averaged 47 miles by bike in 2023, a 17 per cent drop on the previous year and just over half the distance recorded in 2020, while car trips continue to climb

22

Locals urge council to “stop low traffic neighbourhoods and cycle lanes” to help cut down costs, but council claims responses not a “representative sample of residents”

The survey launched by Edinburgh City Council received almost 3,000 responses, with stopping LTNs and reducing active travel the two most-voted suggestions, with 1,300 votes

27

Hundreds sign petition slamming decision to “sacrifice 26 irreplaceable trees” to make way for “dangerous, little used” cycle lane that “adds to pollution” – but council says more trees will be planted in their place

The cycleway was also the subject of criticism earlier this year, when residents claimed that collisions between cyclists and locals reversing out of their drives were “inevitable”, while a motorist was filmed speeding along it in July 2023

38

“It will completely destroy everything”: Pub owner claims controversial cycle lane construction is costing her business “£5,000 a week”, month after bike lane also blamed for “awful” chippy’s demise

The publican says the work on the new cycle lane – which has been the subject of “misinformation” from anti-cycling campaigners – has forced her business into “survival mode”, but the council claims she has “only recently engaged with us”

36

Cycling junction could reduce conflict and optimise traffic flow… but council inundated with complaints on Facebook about “road tax” and lost parking

CYCLOPS junctions are designed to prioritise safety for cyclists and pedestrians, encouraging more people to make active travel journeys as a result — but an outspoken section of the community has flooded Leicestershire County Council with criticism

22

Labour government to invest “unprecedented levels of funding” in cycling

New Transport Secretary Louise Haigh says access to safe cycle routes "essential" for tackling carbon footprint and pointed to the "hundreds of thousands, if not millions" of GP appointments that could be reduced each year through active travel investment

52

“People who cycle don’t use cycle paths because they aren’t very safe”: Plans for traffic-free cycle route criticised due to prospect of dog walkers and pedestrians “having to jump out of the way of cyclists trying to do Personal Best times”

“We aren’t going to get people cycling down there at 30mph weaving in and out of people with pushchairs”

42

Bicycle road safety markings burnt off Dublin residential street because they were “too big and intrusive” and “confusing” drivers, councillor says

The painted logos were added as part of the construction of a nearby greenway and to warn motorists to expect a higher number of cyclists using the street – but residents complained they were “too big for such a small area”

10

“Why do cyclists believe that they have a right to endanger pedestrians?” Council promises to install anti-bike barriers in foot tunnel, as locals and politicians claim “speeding” cyclists are “almost hitting” families and “abusing” pedestrians

“We take people’s safety extremely seriously and recognise that some cyclists are making pedestrians feel unsafe,” a Greenwich Council spokesperson said in response to the latest complaints

88

Fuming former Conservative MP says cyclists “must dismount” on paths and slams “dangerous, irresponsible, and unnecessary” decision to protect cyclists with bollards on busy road – weeks after calling for all bikes to have number plates

Cones and bollards have been put in place on the busy carriageway following the collapse of a nearby bridge used by cyclists and pedestrians – but one outspoken councillor is worried about removing “essential road space” for lorry drivers

19

“Nasty and unsafe” road plans that will force cyclists to use backstreets “overrun” with lorries referred to Active Travel England, as councillors slam “compromise” scheme that sees drivers “not losing out in any way”

“The officers have essentially said, ‘it isn’t worth spending money on people who’d like to cycle, we should spend it on people who drive instead’”

6

“You need a degree to work out the system”: Local business owners welcome decision to rip out “absolute disaster” cycle lane which led to “lots of customers” getting parking tickets

A consultation to remove the controversial bike lane, the scene of several injuries to cyclists and pedestrians tripping over separators or dodging parked cars, begins this week, with one local mayor describing the infrastructure as “hated” and “hideous”

16

More than 30 new low traffic neighbourhoods could be implemented in London as LTNs remain a “key part” to improve public health by encouraging active travel

Transport for London said that it will continue to support boroughs’ implementation of LTNs with both “funding and technical support”, after a poll showed 58% Londoners support them with only 17% in opposition

11

Political spat between Conservative and Labour mayors finally comes to an end as both reach agreement to remove “unpopular” cycle lane that “simply hasn’t worked”

The four-week long consultation period to remove the £1.7 million bike lane in Middlesbrough is set to begin this week seeking views on plans to reinstate the road’s previous layout

13

“Is this what anyone wants?”: Council goes back on promise and scraps cycle lane plans without any consultation to move “line of trees closer to kerb”

A cyclist accused the council of being “very sneaky” and hiding the news in a press release, however a Conservative councillor has said that “cyclists will be pleased with what they see when the scheme is finished”

27

“Cyclists dismount” sign put up as roadworks begin on “ham-fisted” bike lane repeatedly targeted by “brazen” cone-stealing vandals, despite road being open to motor traffic

Thieves had stolen over 600 cones from the cycle lane earlier to turn it into a third motor lane, with a Conservative councillor claiming that the bike lane had been done in “ham-fisted way” 

19