Infrastructure

“It beggars belief”: Council slammed for raiding active travel funds to build “unnecessary, damaging” new road in small town

Councillors and campaigners have reacted with dismay to the local authority’s plans to use the bulk of its active travel budget to build a relief road instead of “investing properly in walking and cycling”

Cycle lanes boosting house prices by up to eight per cent, new study finds

Reducing the distance to the nearest cycle network by just one kilometre is linked to a significant increase in the value of houses in Greater Manchester, with house buyers willing to pay more to live near a bike lane, researchers say

Is this the end for Britain’s most controversial bike lane? Mayor calls on council to scrap “hated” cycle lane and end “ridiculous saga once and for all” – costing local authority £3 million

“The people and businesses of Middlesbrough deserve better than these drawn-out delays,” Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen said ahead of next week’s vote to remove the controversial Linthorpe Road bike lane

“I get more abuse on my bike than in my work”: Cyclist death sparks MP to highlight “dire situation of underinvestment” in cycling, urges some drivers to change “irrational attitudes”

Politician Claire Hanna said the fatal collision has left many cyclists "very frightened" and suggested without better infrastructure it will "deter more people" as there are dangerous routes "no matter how cautious or competent the cyclist"

‘Tree-hugging’ cycle lane opponents ‘backed’ by David Attenborough accuse council of spreading “misinformation” – but local authority says trees are only being cut down because residents opposed loss of on-street car parking

While campaigners claim they are “concerned about the safety of cyclists and vehicles”, new data suggests collisions along other sections of the cycleway have “significantly reduced” since it was installed

Rockin’ around the cycle lane Christmas tree: Backlash as city’s massive tree plonked in middle of contraflow bike lane, forcing cyclists into oncoming traffic

After cyclists criticised the “baffling” decision to block the bike lane for the second year in a row, the council has since moved the tree, allowing cyclists to pass while narrowing the footpath

£2.6m investment in new cycle lane is “misleading” and actually funding road resurfacing for drivers, report suggests

Northern Ireland's Department for Infrastructure claims "sole objective to improve" cycling and walking routes so "significant" cost will be "met from active travel budget" — but questions have been asked about why works also include road "resurfacing"

Chris Boardman tells much-criticised COP summit that cycling’s “superpower” can help tackle climate crisis, marks “first time” active travel “has actually appeared in a major platform” at the event

Comments come at climate summit slammed by report suggesting over 1,700 coal, oil and gas lobbyists have been granted access, as delegates told to "cut the theatrics" and tackle climate crisis

Are flimsy bike lane bollards actually safer for cyclists? Flexible wands lead to fewer and less serious bike crashes than rigid posts, vehicle inspection researchers claim

“The bollard buckled and then acted as a ramp, throwing the dummy off and causing the bike to tip over. In a real-life situation, the person riding the bike would have suffered serious injuries”

“We need an outbreak of common sense”: Controversial cycling trial on pedestrian shopping street approved amid claims “every single resident does not want this scheme” – but disabled cyclists say trial “necessary step” to make town more accessible

“If we don’t hold a trial, we might miss the significant benefits it would bring,” said one cycling campaigner following the decision to lift a 30-year cycling ban, “strongly” opposed by 77 per cent of locals in a consultation

Government “prioritising active travel over safety”, claims councillor – who says new bike lane was so wide “I thought it was a dual carriageway they were building!”

Northern Ireland’s Department for Infrastructure, which this week launched its new long-term Active Travel Delivery Plan, pointed out that cycling and walking schemes “can also improve safety”

Residents claim “jumped-up, arrogant” cyclists will cause “carnage at the expense of pedestrians” as controversial cycling ban to finally be lifted on shopping street to “improve choice of routes”

The street is part of the National Cycle Network, with cyclists claiming that riding on the street had been banned without first putting an alternative route in place

Transport Secretary wants end to “perverse half cycle lanes” and hints at long-term funding for cycling and walking

Secretary of State for Transport, Louise Haigh, has said £100m for cycling and walking was the start, and long-term funding could be pledged in the Spring Spending Review, as she adds road deaths have been "normalised for too long"

“They’ll carry on with their cycle crusade, while we’re stuck in the mess they made”: Local paper publishes bizarre anti-bike lane poem protesting council’s “new crazy scheme”

Is that Shakespeare, Wordsworth or... a "quirky" Wirral resident outraged by a council hoping to "make streets safer for local people"?

Controversial cycle lane wands go viral as furious residents lash out at “blocked” driveways, but local cyclist suggests outrage “overblown” and bike lane bollards only necessary because drivers park in it

One resident is upset "you can't just reverse out fast any more", but the council's roads chief pointed out the wands were installed so cyclists "feel confident that they are safe" and to prevent drivers blocking the route with parked vehicles

Students claim lack of car parking is harming their studies – but university tells them to try cycling to class

Last month, Queen’s University Belfast opened three new on-campus cycle parking facilities as part of ongoing active travel efforts – but students say they’ve walked into lectures an hour late because “there’s no place to park”

“Misinformation” claiming “dangerous” new cycle lane would increase collisions proved wrong as council celebrates new layout reducing incidents and creating “safer environment” for all road users

No "serious" incidents in the three years since cycle lane built and "slight" incidents reduced too, as council praised for persevering despite "irresponsible" misinformation claiming project would increase collisions

Is cycling and walking being shafted in the West Midlands? Mayor distances himself from “downgraded” voluntary road safety job ad that has since disappeared

Richard Parker denied involvement in the short-lived job posting, with one active travel campaigner saying that replacing a full-time Walking and Cycling Commissioner role with a voluntary one would be "devastating" for cycle route delivery in the region

“Safe, efficient, and easy to use”: Cycling junctions “keep everyone protected with no impact on drivers” says Active Travel England, amid hysteria over “chaotic” new layout with 36 traffic lights

Residents in Cambridge complained that the newly upgraded junctions are confusing, increasing congestion, and leaving “long queues of cars standing on idle”

“Intimidating behaviour” sees police called to cycle lane consultation, as council cancels next event to “protect members of staff involved”

Even before the public consultation, residents "outraged by having to walk an extra few yards from their car" had been accused of "trying to stoke fear and opposition" against a major cycle lane project in the town

Controversial cycle lane “will close a whole load of businesses and cost jobs” claims mayor, as rival mayors clash over delays to infrastructure’s removal

After previously uniting to scrap the cycle lane, the scene of a series of injuries to pedestrians and cyclists, Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen has now claimed that Middlesbrough Council want to keep the infrastructure amid a funding spat

“You’ve really got to expect the unexpected”: Driving instructor says “chaotic, distracting” new roundabout with cycle lanes, 36 traffic lights, and coloured surfaces has “too much to look at”

The new signalised roundabout has been dubbed “obscene”, “a birthday cake”, and “Blackpool Illuminations” by disgruntled motorists – but cyclists say people of all ages and abilities can now navigate the junction safely

Cyclists launch petition to improve “unsafe, unacceptable” narrow cycle lane, with fears strong winds could blow cyclists into 50mph+ oncoming traffic or down a steep bank

A report from the council has suggested widening or realigning the cycle lane for a long-term solution, making access to private lands an “almost certainty”

Local High Steward blames congestion on new “cycle-only” traffic light on bike lane which services “very few cyclists”… but data shows over 400 cyclists using it every day, with cycling levels continuing to rise

The former Lib Dem MP said that cyclists should manually activate the light on the controversial bike lane, however the council said that it will continue to run automatically so “no one goes undetected and gets stuck on a red light”

“Accelerate efforts to eradicate cyclist deaths,” demand campaigners from major London universities calling for action on road safety

Academics and students from all London's major academic institutions have joined forces to explore "a safer future for cycling" in the city, action sparked by two staff and one student being killed while cycling in less than a year

Build safe cycling routes to help people ditch cars for local journeys, urges senior doctor “redressing balance” of city’s “polarised” cycling ban debate

Dr Jonathan Leach OBE says if he could prescribe exercise it "would be one of the most effective drugs", the Worcester-based doctor trying to "redress the balance" of "so much negativity locally" from those "vehemently anti-cycling"

Police & Crime Commissioner defends under-fire force accused of “astonishing victim blaming” by cycling campaign group, after officers raised concerns that installing more bike parking is “not ideal” and could cause “bigger increase in crime”

Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Barber insisted the stance "isn't victim blaming" and argued the concern was simply stating that "if the plans go ahead they should be designed with crime prevention in mind"

“A bike lane doesn’t close a village”: Dame Sarah Storey defends cycle lane blamed for “ruining business” and “killing village”, calls shops closing “a coincidence, not an unexpected consequence”

Traders say scheme has hit business and left "nowhere to park", even though the project saw 80 new off-road spaces created, Greater Manchester's Active Travel Commissioner instead pointing to the cost of living crisis and impact of the pandemic

Cyclists can’t reach proposed active travel route due to town centre bike ban, as “crazy” plans slammed as “white elephant” that will not benefit cycling

“A toucan crossing, by definition, is for pedestrians and cyclists. But there is no way of actually cycling to get there”

“Not everyone can leisurely take a bike”: Active travel scheme branded “most expensive cat litter tray in history” by residents threatening to move away from “nightmare” area – but cyclists say town centre will become “safer and more pleasant place”

The council has apologised for the disruption caused by the road works, but insists the scheme will transform the town centre for residents and businesses and “greatly improve the experience for pedestrians and cyclists”