We’re still open to cycle streets, says DfT, as Norwich plans stall

The DfT said this week that it was still willing to work with local authorities on plans for ‘cycle streets’ – where motorists could be prohibited from overtaking cyclists – despite plans to implement them in Norwich having “stalled”

The DfT announced plans to trial the cycle streets concept last spring (LTT 16 May 14). “We will be taking the opportunity to trial the ‘cycle streets’ concept within the revised Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2015,” it said in its consultation on the draft version of the document. “This is a bold initiative, which is being considered by some of the Cycle Cities [that received funding from the DfT last year] and London.”

The DfT said cycle streets would be lightly trafficked and have high cycle flows. Motorists could be prohibited from overtaking cyclists on the streets. “Subject to any scheme trial, this prohibition could be accompanied by an advisory speed limit of 15 mph,” it said.

Norwich City Council had been planning to turn two streets into cycle streets on its Pink Pedalway, an east-west route part-funded by DfT Cycle City Ambition Fund grant. 

But Joanne Deverick, Norwich’s transportation and network manager, has told Norwich’s highways agency committee: “The cycle street concept was a new idea suggested by the DfT; however, none of the other cycle ambition cities looked to make use of this measure and discussions with the DfT on how these may be implemented have stalled. 

“It will therefore not be possible to introduce these elements as part of the pedalway project.”

A DfT spokesman told LTT this week that discussions had taken place with Norwich but he was unable to say what the cause of the talks stalling was. He added: “The DfT remain supportive of the idea and we remain willing to work with local authorities who want to trial proposals.”

Deverick told Norwich councillors that a number of aspects of the original pedalways project had been dropped, deferred or revised because of escalating costs and technical constraints. The £5.87m programme is funded by £3.7m from the DfT’s Cycle City Ambition Fund and local contributions. 

Two-metre wide hybrid cycle tracks have been dropped from The Avenues section of the route in the west of the city, partly because of the potential damage to trees, and the maintenance issues that tree roots could pose for the track. Instead, full-width sinusoidal cycle friendly road humps will be provided to restrict vehicle speeds to 20mph and advisory cycle lanes will be painted on the carriageway.

The route design through Tombland on the edge of the city centre has been revised after discovery that the plans are incompatible with Norfolk’s bus rapid transit proposals.  

Proposals to allow cyclists to cycle through the pedestrianised area in Norwich city centre have also been shelved. Said Deverick: “This project was cancelled early in the programme when it became clear that there was no clear consensus on the extent of cycling that might be permitted nor on consequential changes such as to delivery timings. The broader issue of access for cyclists in the city centre will be looked at as part of the second phase of cycle ambition funding.”

Norwich has received a further £8.4m of DfT grant to deliver the blue and yellow pedalways over the next three years.