An independent committee responsible for one of Bristol’s largest estates has called for traffic-calming measures to be introduced to turn surrounding roads into a ‘family cycle loop’.

The Downs Committee, responsible for managing the Clifton and Durdham Downs in the north of the city, say that the proposal would encourage parents who are currently “concerned about the idea of cycling with their children.”

The proposals, on Circular Road and Ladies Mile, include 20mph speed limits and a one-way system, and could also involve cutting the roadside parking space. However. as the Downs do not have a dedicated car park, leading many cars to park on the road, such a proposal is likely to be contested.

Original proposals, drafted in 2020 included constructing new bike paths through the Downs, and largely avoided shared spaces with cars. However, in a meeting earlier this week, the committee concluded that overcoming “the resistance to path building on the grass might be a very challenging exercise.

“We are therefore tabling an alternative way to deliver much of the Downs Loop concept by extending the road calming approach to Ladies Mile, in addition to the original plan for calming Circular Rd, by restricting through traffic on Ladies Mile to stop this being used as a rat-run.”

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However, the committee acknowledge that their proposal “would be likely resisted by those who commute or cut through along Ladies Mile.” It’s also unclear if the proposed loop would be completed by cycling on the busier Stoke Road, or would involve making the footpaths through the Downs shared-use.

A little bit of Ladies Mile, Bristol
A little bit of Ladies Mile, Bristol (Image Credit: Neil Owen)

Bristol 24/7 report that chair of the Bristol Cycling Campaign Ian Pond played down suggestions of an on-street car parking ban, saying “If you want to go to those roads or park on them, all those roads (will still be) open. It’s just you have to go a slightly different route.”

However, the committee’s statutory independence means it is reliant on Bristol City Council to implement the road changes and provide funding for the traffic-calming proposals. Such proposals will then likely be subject to a second public consultation organised by the council.

Bristol has historically been among the better UK cities for cycling, and last year was ranked the eighth-best city in Europe for children to cycle in. However, the same report found the UK as a whole suffered from a “lack of political ambition” towards safer active travel.

The city has also not been immune to criticism, with existing cycle lanes being branded as “invisible”, causing pedestrians to regularly walk in them, whilst the marquee car-free Railway Path running between Bristol and Bath has become subject to frequent bikejackings.

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