Cyclists welcome new bike lanes in Peterborough - but say more action needed

A pop-up cycle lane has been set up on Crescent Bridge, and work to create another in City Road is due to start soon.

one cyclist, Alan Storer, said the Crescent Bridge cycle lane had made travelling safer in the city centre. He said: “It’s been a while since I last cycled over Crescent Bridge – in fact, I actively try and avoid doing so whenever possible. Queuing traffic heading for the roundabout doesn’t make it a pleasant experience. However, during the current COVID-19 outbreak, Peterborough City Council has taken advantage of decreased traffic to install a “pop-up” cycle lane heading into the city. This has made getting into the city from Thorpe Road an absolute breeze, although one does still have to run the gauntlet of Thorpe Road itself – it would be nice to see a dedicated cycle lane here as well, as the road is surely wide enough.”

Green councillor Nicola Day also welcomed the new lane. She said: “The pop up cycle lane on Crescent Bridge now provides safe access into the city centre for both walkers and cyclists.

“I have used the lanes myself many times and it feels far safer with the protected lane for cyclists both in terms of cycling beside the traffic and giving more space to walkers on the pavements.”

Matthew Barber, from sustainable transport charity Sustrans, said: “For decades Crescent Bridge has represented a major barrier for cyclists, especially those exiting from the rail station, who were faced with having to dash across three lanes of traffic to cycle onto Thorpe Road.

“We are therefore extremely pleased to see the protected cycle lane installed on Crescent Bridge, which, whilst it isn’t perfect, it is a most certainly a positive step in the right direction.

“It is also important to note that Peterborough City Council are only doing what Central Government have told them to do, and paid them to do – the city council have been told to ‘within weeks to reallocate road space away from motor vehicles, and to give more space to pedestrians and cyclists’.

“We should also not forget that over 20% of Peterborough households do not have access to a motor vehicle – and they are now being told not to use public transport either, so more and more new and inexperienced cyclists are taking to the roads to make their short, regular trips to work and the shops. The intervention on Crescent Bridge is for them.

“My last point is that there is also considerable public support – Bike Life, which is coordinated by Sustrans, is the largest independent study into cycling attitudes, and the 2019 report found that –

“Sixty eight per cent support building more cycle tracks even when this would mean less room for other road traffic.

“Seventy seven per cent think that more cycle tracks along roads physically separated from traffic and pedestrians would be useful to help them cycle more.”

However, Alan also called for more action on some of Peterborough’s other, more established cycle ways.

He said: “Heading out onto the Green Wheel via the Embankment, I hit the first of what would become a recurring theme – overgrown trees/bushes. The willows are stunningly beautiful but are very low.

“Subsidence and roots have also caused the tarmac here to ripple and crack, creating an uncomfortable ride.

“Once I got to Flag Fen, the problems increased. By the looks of things, this section is little-used; The greenery on each side has encroached to a huge extent – you wouldn’t want to meet someone coming the other way.

“Generally, though, I found the southern section of the Green Wheel that I rode to be well- maintained. The signing could be a little clearer in places, especially around the Crown Lakes section – it is quite easy to miss the finger post.”