Cycle campaigners urge council to 'seize opportunity’ to make Harrogate streets safer

Prime Minister Boris Johnson suggested that the UK could see a “golden age of cycling" when the government last week announced a £2billion package to boost cycling and walking.

The plans include pop-up bike lanes, wider pavements, safer junctions, and cycle and bus-only corridors.

North Yorkshire County Council is now set to receive a slice of the government cash - but how much the authority will get and how it will be spent has yet to be announced.

Kevin Douglas, chairman of Harrogate District Cycle Action, said the council needs to act quickly whilst cycling continues to see a surge in popularity.

The group has suggested closing streets to cars at school drop-off and pick-up times, introducing temporary cycle lanes and 'car free weekends' as possible improvements.

Kevin told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "We are hoping that the council will take forward some of our suggestions and trial them, but they need to do it quickly to capture the moment.

"We are seeing improvements made in York, Leeds and Bradford where councils are seizing the opportunity.

"This is a great chance to make some real improvements in Harrogate, Ripon, Knaresborough and other rural areas of the borough.

"People have started to realise that the car is not always king and we need to give some space on the road for cyclists.

"Yes the government is talking about a golden age of cycling - but they will only be able to do this with proper lanes and protection."

Harrogate Golf Club reopens today for first time since lockdown

Local authorities across the country have been told to reallocate road space for significantly increased numbers of cyclists and pedestrians.

In Manchester there are plans for 150 miles of protected cycle track, while Transport for London wants to build a 'bike tube' network above the capital's underground.

Big machinery sent in to repair The Stray at West Park in Harrogate

David Bowe, North Yorkshire’s Director for Business and Environmental Services, said the county council is looking at locations where improvements could be made in the region.

He said: “Further information on potential measures in North Yorkshire will be available later this week based on the guidance issued yesterday in the government’s recovery strategy.

“Alongside the measures to assist social distancing, the government also announced a number of other initiatives and funding streams for cycling.

“These included a five-year £2billion funding package, split into £250million to fund measures in the short term to ease pressures on public transport in the recovery from covid-19 with the remaining £1.75billion to cover longer term cycling and walking projects.

“As yet the Department for Transport has not communicated how the money will be distributed to local highway authorities and whether or not there will be a bidding process.”

Environmental group Zero Carbon Harrogate are also pushing for cycling and walking improvements in the district.

Its chair Jemima Parker said: "It's vital that the additional pedestrian and cycling activity we have come to enjoy during lockdown is allowed to continue as more cars come back on the roads. It's good for our air quality, our health and our local businesses.

"To aid effective social distancing Zero Carbon Harrogate would like to see: cones or planters used to temporarily widen pavements; pop up cycle lanes; temporary cul-de-sacs on rat runs; 20mph speed limits; and encouragement for cars to be parked on the road rather than narrowing pavements."

By Jacob Webster, Local Democracy Reporter

A message from the Editor

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper.