Leicester’s COVID-19 Transport Recovery Plan published

Coronavirus: City charts course out of pandemic

Leicester has been rolling out temporary cycle lanes

Leicester has been rolling out temporary cycle lanes

A document setting out how Leicester’s transport system can best meet the challenges presented by the coronavirus pandemic and help the city’s economy to recover, as well as securing longer-term environmental benefits, has been published by the city council.

The Leicester COVID-19 Transport Recovery Plan sets out planned actions for the coming months to create space for social distancing and safe travelling throughout the city, ranging from pop-up cycling and walking schemes to bringing forward infrastructure projects.

Leicester City Mayor Peter Soulsby and deputy city mayor for environment and transportation, Cllr Adam Clarke, launched the plan on 29 May.

The recovery plan is based on three key principles:

• Safety – adhering to government advice in terms of social distancing, safe design of any changes to streets and creating schemes which tackle transport emissions to protect the health of residents
• Sustainability – supporting climate emergency work and helping to create a sustainable local economy
• Social equity – providing fair access to all in an inclusive city

The first phase of schemes under the Transport Recovery Plan has included new pop-up cycle tracks in Aylestone Road, Saffron Lane, London Road and Abbey Park Road, with more due to be installed on Hinckley Road/Glenfield Road, and routes linking to business areas of Beaumont Leys, as well as more clearly segregating existing cycle lanes.

Pavement-widening is also due to take place to support businesses and shoppers in key local retail areas, with Belgrave Road completed, and Queens Road, Narborough Road, Braunstone Gate and Green Lane planned, to enable shoppers to socially distance safely as businesses gradually reopen with the easing of lockdown restrictions. Work is also being done to prioritise walking and cycling in Pocklington’s Walk.

The government has announced Leicester will receive £363,000 as the first funding allocation from a £250m budget for Active Travel Emergency Funding, which will be used to finance these schemes.

Alongside this work, permanent schemes continue to be developed and installed, including those currently on-site at Belgrave Gate and Lancaster Road, as part of the ongoing Connecting Leicester work, which is also being accelerated.

The Transport Recovery Plan also sets out the approach being taken by the council and bus operators to ensure people who have to use public transport can do so safely.

Park & ride services from Meynell’s Gorse and Enderby recommenced on 1 June to provide more bus capacity.

Leicester City Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby is a longtime advocate of walking and cycling. Launching the plan, he said: “The coronavirus pandemic has impacted on all aspects of society across the city, changing much of what we take for granted. It has meant we’ve had to look at ways the city, its residents, businesses and its economy can begin to recover. As the city begins to return to some sort of normality, with businesses and schools gradually reopening, the Transport Recovery Plan sets out how we want to help the city move forward in a better way from the unprecedented obstacles we have all faced.”

In addition to the council’s pledge to continue its Bike Aid scheme to supply reconditioned and donated bicycles to key workers, the new Leicester Santander Bike Share scheme is set to be launched this summer, allowing people to hire bikes from hubs across the city centre and other key areas.

Mayor Soulsby has set the goal of creating a mile of cycling and walking routes every week for the next 10 weeks. The routes will build upon the ongoing Connecting Leicester work to create a cycling and walking network connecting key areas of the city including shopping, business and tourist areas, hospitals, universities and development areas.

In Leicester around 40% of urban journeys are under two miles, and by providing additional safe routes the city council wants to encourage as many people as possible to walk and cycle rather than use a car. During the lockdown, traffic in the city – and subsequent nitrogen dioxide emission levels – fell to about 50% of its previous volumes, with bus usage at about 17%. Cycling increased in some outer areas of the city by between 170%, with walking also doubling on some routes.

Leicester deputy city mayor for environment and transportation, Cllr Adam Clarke, said: “This Transport Recovery Plan outlines vital actions as we continue to respond to the COVID-19 crisis. Beyond this, it presents an opportunity to turbocharge our work to promote healthy travel choices, support the local economy, combat the climate emergency and improve air quality across the city. We know that the pop-up cycle lanes and pavement widening work we’ve achieved so far have helped many workers, businesses and local communities as the city begins to recover. Going forward we will continue to think creatively about what measures we can bring in to support the city as it recovers, in a way that balances the needs of people’s health, the economy and our environmental commitments.”

The Leicester Transport Recovery Plan can be viewed by clicking here