New Coventry cycleway plans unveiled...

[dutchman]

Plans have been unveiled for the first phase of a new multimillion-pound cycleway in Binley, Coventry



The city council has set out the plans for the first part of the fully segregated two-way cycleway, which runs to Binley Business Park on Harry Weston Road.

The first phase covers a 3.4km (2.1 mile) section, but the final route will span 6km (3.75 mile), eventually running to University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire.

It will also link cyclists to the likes of the city centre, Coventry University, Gosford Green and Stoke Green.

The scheme could start in spring 2021 and take up to a year to complete.

A number of side roads will become closed to vehicular traffic including Stoke Green (West), Raleigh Road [CGI above] and Anthony Way at their junctions with Binley Road.

[dutchman]

It's not as if the council have got more important things to worry about right now!

[rebbonk]

I'm afraid that the stupidity and shortsightedness of our council knows no bounds. But hey, they're doing the 'popular' thing!

[dutchman]

Second phase of cycleway planned



The second phase of multimillion-pound plans for a new cycleway to University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire have been revealed.

Coventry City Council has laid out its plans for the final section of the route, which runs along Clifford Bridge Road to the hospital in Walsgrave.

The two-way cycleway will be 3.75 miles (6km) long and link the hospital to the city centre via the Binley Business Park on Harry Weston Road.

A consultation on the first phase to the business park opened in October and thoughts are now sought for the second phase.

Cyclists will have priority over traffic entering and leaving side roads and also bypass traffic-light junctions or have their own set of traffic lights.

The Binley scheme is backed by £5m of West Midlands Combined Authority funding and work on the first phase could start in the summer.

[dutchman]

New Binley cycleway costing around £1,400 per metre branded a complete waste of money



The new Binley cycleway has been branded a 'complete waste of money' by some people after it emerged it is costing the taxpayer around £1,400 for every metre of its length.

Work has now started on the 6km long route, which will run from the city centre to University Hospital Coventry and into Warwickshire via the Binley Business Park.

It aims to encourage more people to get on their bikes as part of efforts to tackle climate change.

But the £8.6m cost of the project has raised a few eyebrows - and some believe the money would be better spent elsewhere.

Mike Robinson said: "8.6 mill. and they can't fill the pot holes in !!!"

Tracey Knocker added: "What a complete waste of money."

Win McGlynn commented: "Let’s hope all the cyclist’s use the cycle lanes now after all that money has been spent on them, if not another waste of money by the council."

Kelle Maynard said: "Here we go again. Spending money on a pointless and unnecessary project."

While Michael Rodwell added: "Waste of money and time."

The project was approved by The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and only £6.3m of the total cost has been found so far, including a £61,000 payment from Coventry City Council.

[rebbonk]

The new Binley cycleway has been branded a 'complete waste of money' by some people after it emerged it is costing the taxpayer around £1,400 for every metre of its length.

What did they really expect from our council? They haven't got a single ha'porth of financial sense amongst them. - Unless it benefits them!

Who was the contractor, what (if any) links did/do they have to our councillors? Follow the money is always good advice, especially at £1400/metre!

[dutchman]

Pop-up cycle lane to be made permanent



A pop-up city centre cycle lane is set to be made permanent, a council has said.

The temporary lane, which links Coventry city centre at Upper Well Street to the Canal Basin at Leicester Row, was introduced in 2020 in a bid to improve active travel.

Plans to make it permanent were approved at a Coventry City Council meeting on Wednesday.

A report said the route would have a "positive impact on the environment".

A two-way track is now expected to be introduced along the route, with signage paid for by the government's Active Travel Fund, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

The council said there were no objections to the plan and other improvements had been proposed to help visitors to Coventry get access to 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games venues via the canal towpath.

These include changing part of the footway from Draper's Field to Leicester Row into a cycle track and placing a designated cycle track along Greyfriars Green.

The Greyfriars Green route will be part of a route linking Coventry's station to the canal towpath for the Games.

"The works will have a positive impact on the environment by improving the cycle network... making cycling a more attractive travel option for local journeys," officers said in the report.

[dutchman]

Residents blast 'madness' of new Foleshill cycleway plans as proposals spark fears of 'traffic chaos'



A petition has been launched to fight plans for a new cycleway down Foleshill Road. The plans include creating a cycle track from Canal Basin to Broad Street which will be fully separate from the pavement.

The council website states that it will make the area "an even better place to live, work and visit" as many use it as a shortcut to the A444 rather than stopping in the area, according to the council's traffic surveys. It is part of a £4.5 million project to improve the road with new crossings for walkers and cyclists, and create bus stops that are accessible.

The change.org petition was started by Shakeel B, a resident of Foleshill who said the cycle lane and converting the dual carriageway to single will have a 'significant impact on our daily lives' and will affect those who live, work, study and seek medical services within the area.

He added: "Foleshill Road is home to several schools, colleges, NHS hospitals and religious practices . These institutions are integral parts of our community that rely heavily on this thoroughfare for their daily operations. A change as drastic as this could disrupt their functioning and cause unnecessary inconvenience.

"Moreover, we already have ample space available on the pavement for cyclists without having to alter the structure of the road itself. The introduction of a single carriageway could potentially block numerous busy bus stops along Foleshill road causing further traffic congestion.

"Additionally, with limited space due to a single carriageway setup, more cars may resort to parking off pavements which will only add to the chaos. We urge Coventry Council to reconsider these proposed changes keeping in mind its impact on local residents' lives and livelihoods."

Over 125 people have signed the petition so far, with the goal of reaching 200 signatures. Locals also expressed their concerns on why these plans should not go ahead.

Pam Turley said: "Its a busy road every day without adding more restrictions. I really think this is the most ridiculous idea ever." Anne Forrest added: "Foleshill Road is too busy and gets too congested to narrow the road any further."

Mahmuda Khanom said: "There's not enough space on one road for long traffic for school, work, study, emergency police and ambulance. If police and ambulance come for emergency, then where are vans, buses or lorry supposed to move?

Marius-Cristian Neagu added: "Foleshill road is already very busy. Halving its capacity is madness. There's thousands of people driving on that road every day, and perhaps single digits cyclists."

For more information about the detailed plans of the Foleshill cycleway, click here. To sign the petition for opposing the council's plans, visit the change.org website.

[rebbonk]

Our imbecilic council destroyed traffic flow on the Foleshill Road when they removed the bus stop bays and allowed the buses to cause hold-ups whilst passengers boarded and alighted. Don't expect anything worthwhile to come out of our council chambers where traffic flow is concerned. - You may wish to draw your own conclusions as to why, but you can bet it involves money!

[dutchman]

Third new design for £8.6m Coventry cycleway after safety concerns



A council has come up with a third design for the final section of an £8.6m cycleway after concerns from local residents.

Issues around safety, parking and visibility for people getting off their drives were raised over the Binley cycleway to Coventry City Council.

The cycleway, which is yet to be completed, will run along Clifford Bridge Road.

One resident said: "I think they keep tweaking it to try and fob us off."

The latest plans for the final section of the cycleway were discussed at a public meeting on Thursday with around 50 people attending.

Residents were told the council no longer intends to narrow Clifford Bridge Road to accommodate the cycleway.

They also heard that more parking spaces will be put in compared to the original plan, and there will be a kerb to separate the pavement and the cycleway for most of its route.

Local resident Dawn McCann has launched a petition against the plans and told the BBC: "I think they keep tweaking it to try and fob us off and not tackle the actual issue of safety.

"No one who lives on Clifford Bridge wants to run cyclist over, nobody would intentionally injure anybody, but the way the cycleway is being designed at the moment, all of those cyclists are sitting ducks."

Costing an estimated £8.6m, the Binley cycleway aims to cover 6km (3.7 miles) to link Coventry city centre with University Hospital Coventry.