North Yorkshire bids for £1.3million of active travel cash to boost walking and cycling

The authority is preparing a bid to the Department for Transport (DfT) for its share of £250million being made available for projects including pop-up bike lanes, widened pavements and cycle and bus-only corridors.

To win the cash the council has until Friday to show "swift and meaningful" measures to boost people-powered travel, the DfT said.

It comes as campaigners in Harrogate are calling on the council to act quickly whilst cycling continues to see a surge in popularity during lockdown. They have suggested closing streets to cars at school drop-off and pick-up times, introducing temporary cycle lanes and car free weekends as possible improvements.

But Coun Don Mackeznie, Executive Member for Access, has said the council is being "realistic" about its plans and added the £1.3million up for grabs will not be enough to fund major projects.

"The amount on offer and the requirement to spend it quickly mean that we will be looking to make small but effective improvements that offer the maximum benefit," he said.

“To give some context, if the £1.3million were to be spent solely on new permanent segregated cycle routes it would be sufficient to pay for about three kilometres, less than two miles, of cycle path."

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An initial £266,000 is being made available to fund temporary measures such as widened footpaths, which have already been introduced in Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon.

The council said it expects to learn shortly how it will be able to bid for the remaining £1.1million.

Other measures which are being considered include widening pedestrian crossings, encouraging walking and cycling to school, more cycle parking facilities and junction upgrades.

If successful, the council must start work on projects within four weeks of the money being made available and completed within eight.

Coun Mackenzie said: "We know that there are many people across North Yorkshire who are enthusiastic about sustainable, active travel, as we are, and we are keen to hear suggestions for consideration, but in relation to this current funding it is important to keep those suggestions realistic.”

To have your say on the plans visit www.northyorks.gov.uk/socialdistancingandactivetravel

By Jacob Webster, Local Democracy Reporter