A SECOND temporary cycle track is being installed to help create a safe route for people cycling into the city centre during the coronavirus lockdown.
Leicester City Council has coned off a 500-metre section of Saffron Lane between Aylestone Road and Hawkins Road, near Saffron Lane sports stadium, taking advantage of the substantial reduction in traffic.
It follows widespread support from local cycling groups and transport campaigners for a similar scheme introduced last week to install a temporary cycling route along part of Aylestone Road, which together create a one-kilometre safe route.
The latest route at Saffron Lane will come into effect from Friday, May 1, and provides an additional section of cycle track to help key workers from the Saffron Lane and Aylestone areas. It will comprise a two-way cycle route using the outbound bus lane on a section of Saffron Lane. Bus stops at either end of the cycle lane will remain in use.
The temporary cycle route network is being put in place to make the most of the dramatic drop in the number of cars and buses on the roads, due to the lockdown which is causing many people to work from home and avoid all but essential travel.
Peak time traffic in the city is currently at about half of its normal level.
Last week saw the introduction of a 500-metre section of temporary cycle track on Aylestone Road, between Almond Road and the former Granby Halls site next to the Leicester Tigers rugby ground.
That route was aimed at providing safe distancing space and a protected cycle track for key workers such as those commuting to the nearby Leicester Royal Infirmary.
In both schemes the cycle track has been segregated by traffic cones to create a safer route, and combined they help to link up existing cycling tracks between Freemans Common and the south Leicester suburbs, with Leicester Royal Infirmary via the existing Welford Road cycle track into the city centre. This additional cycle track helps to link Saffron Lane and Aylestone to LRI.
In addition to the temporary lanes, timings at traffic lights have also been altered to give even greater priority to pedestrians and cyclists to cross normally busy roads.
Similar schemes have been introduced elsewhere in Europe. Authorities in Germany have temporarily enlarged city cycling and walking routes to allow riders and walkers to observe social distancing more easily while the streets are relatively free of other traffic. Cyclists and pedestrians in Brighton are now also able to use the seafront at Madeira Drive daily from 8am to 8pm.
Some routes in Leicester have seen an increase in cycling since the coronavirus lockdown, with some people choosing to avoid public transport and get essential exercise by walking or cycling to work.
There are hopes the increase in walking and cycling will continue once lockdown ends, with residents using the permanent network of routes created under the city council’s Connecting Leicester scheme.
Leicester deputy city mayor for the environment and transportation, Cllr Adam Clarke, said: “The significant drop in traffic due to the lockdown has created the opportunity for us to put in these temporary cycle routes, at very low cost and quickly, on what would normally be busy roads.
“With more key workers cycling to work at the moment, and some disappointing reports of a few people driving at higher speeds, this is clearly the right thing to do as it gives key workers confidence that they can cycle to where we need them to be safely.
“We’ve also had an amazing response to Bike Aid, our free cycle loan and repairs scheme, we launched earlier this month in partnership with local cycle shops and organisations.
“By providing free of charge bike loans, bike servicing and new bike routes we are making it as easy as possible for people who need to get around the city to do so.”
More information on cycling and walking routes is available at the Choose How You Move website.
The Leicester Bike Aid scheme is funded by the city council and supported by donations from local bikes shops, businesses, Sustrans, British Cycling and individuals. Key workers who are interested in the scheme can email cycle-city@leicester.gov.uk and then fill in a registration form. Bikes can be picked up from participating cycle shops a few days after you have successfully registered.
The bikes are cleaned and sanitised before being handed over, and social distancing is observed at all times, including during collection.
More information about Leicester Bike Aid, walking and cycling routes is available on the Choose How You Move website.