Coventry's first dedicated cycleway approved

It's hoped to boost cycling provision and air quality



Coventry’s first dedicated cycleway has been given the green light.

Construction of the 1.7 mile two-way route from Coundon to the city centre will begin ahead of Christmas with an expected completion date of autumn 2021.

The cycleway is hoped to boost air quality and cycling provision in the city, with council chiefs hoping it will be “the first of many” new routes.

The route runs Norman Place Road in Coundon to Hill Street in the city centre and will serve around 4,500 homes in the catchment as well six schools.

Some alterations were made to the design after a consultation, including new zebra crossings by floating bus stops, ‘Dutch style’ entrances at side roads, and a new grass verge between the cycleway and road on Hollyfast Road to reduce vehicle speeds.

Cabinet member for city services Cllr Pat Hetherton, who approved the scheme at a meeting on Monday, September 7, said: “This is something which has been in planning for some time.

“Whilst we are looking at air quality issues, since the pandemic hit us this is very much about people.

“For the first time we are seeing families on bikes and people wanting to cycle. People don’t want to go on public transport and they are still anxious about things. If we provide them with a safe passage to travel on, this is it and it’s going to be really good.”

The plans prompted a 156-name petition against the cycleway which highlighted concerns over the loss of off-street parking for residents along Westhill Road, while a counter petition in favour of the cycleway was signed by 398 people.

It's one of the steepest hills in Coventry, I can barely walk up it let alone cycle! There's also been no shade in summer or shelter in winter since the elm trees which used to line it died in 1987.

Coundon cycleway still being built despite plans to open last December



Coventry's first ever segregated cycleway is still under construction. The cycle route in Coundon was supposed to open in December last year (2021).

However, Councillor Jim O'Boyle has confirmed it's still not fully open to the public. The 1.7 mile route from the city centre is aiming to be the best cycleways in the country.

The two-way track features ‘floating bus stops’ and ‘Dutch style entrances’. The aim is to help boost cycling in Coventry with a safe, dedicated route away from cars.

The route runs through the tunnel under the train track on Barker Butts Lane. This means cars will no longer be able to use the tunnel when a train passes and will have to wait at the junction.

The track will run from Norman Place Road near the Birchfield Road junction in Coundon to Hill Street. The location was chosen to help boost air quality in the city and to try to take more cars off the road.

Holyhead Road has the highest levels of nitrogen dioxide in the city and work is currently underway to widen Spon End. The city council say by doing this, traffic heading into the city centre will have more than one main road to choose from.

There currently isn't a completion date for the Coundon cycleway.