Pop-up cycle lanes set for axe after complaints
CYCLE lanes along the A56 could be removed from next month, with a ‘major review’ to be carried out.
Trafford council’s executive member for the environment Coun Stephen Adshead said the plan had ‘always been’ for the pop-up lanes, brought in under lockdown, to be temporary.
He and town hall leader Coun Andrew Western previously indicated the lanes could become permanent if there was enough support.
But after ‘a large number of complaints’ from drivers, businesses and bus operators – and some journeys across the borough taking up to an hour – the decision has been made to remove the lanes in preparation for schools returning in September.
Coun Adshead said in a letter to a resident: “These temporary facilities were set up during the coronavirus pandemic when public transport was drastically reduced.
“When we first started setting them up the roads were very quiet. We had no funding ourselves for such work. It was always envisaged these works were temporary and would be kept under constant review as lockdown eased and traffic levels increased.
“We did recognise even before the schemes were put in there could be real challenges south of the M60.”
Coun Adshead added: “Yes, we had complaints from drivers, but crucially also from our partners, like local businesses and bus operators. Journey times from Sale to Timperley were taking nearly an hour – official data backs this up. We have acted fairly to all sides in this work.”
He said there had been ‘a large number of complaints,’ particularly about the cycle lane between Sale and
Timperley, which was removed just 48 hours after it had been installed last month. Cycling groups were consulted, he insisted.
There were around two per cent more cyclists on the road during lockdown, but Coun Adshead numbers fell dramatically ‘when the weather turned.’
Three cyclists died on Trafford’s roads in May alone this year. Campaigners welcomed the new lanes.
One long-term commuter from Trafford to Manchester said that ‘for the first time in 40 years,’ he ‘felt safe’ on the A56.
It is understood council officers are looking at potential routes that run alongside the A56 that could be suitable for cycle lanes.