Segregated bike lane bid first for city

Physical barrier installation would separate cyclists from vehicles

THE city’s first ever fully segregated cycle lane could be installed soon along two roads that see a ‘high concentration of accidents.’

Portsmouth City Council has recently consulted with residents and businesses along Elm Grove and Kings Road, in Southsea, for views on a lane which would keep cyclists separate from cars and buses.

If work goes ahead it would see car parking spaces along the two roads removed and a physical barrier installed to make it safer than the existing painted lane.

The council is currently seeking an extension from government to spend cash from its emergency active travel fund on the scheme, to allow further consultation with the public before going ahead with plans.

Councillor Lynne the council’s traffic

Stagg, boss, explained why a consultation was important. She said: ‘Although the government does not require us to, we felt it was very important to inform people on Elm Grove and Kings Road in advance of putting in a new segregated cycle lane as part of our emergency active travel activity during the pandemic.

‘This fund requires local councils to introduce schemes to enable better social distancing and improvements to cycling and walking routes, especially where the evidence is that such improvements are required to improve safety.’

Amid lockdown the council faced pressure to quickly implement cycling and walking improvements in the city. During this time it also agreed to create a segregated bike lane along Goldsmith Avenue in Southsea by the end of the year.

Chairman of the Pompey Cycle Forum, Ian Saunders, said: ‘Depending on when it is installed it is destined to be the first segregated cycle lane in the city.

‘It is important it is implemented properly because we still have over 100 cycle accidents in the city every year and that trend is currently on an upward trajectory.

‘We would encourage people to use it and provide feedback. We need to see these sorts of plans across the city to create a network to make cycling a real choice of transport and get cars off the road.’

If the lane is implemented, it is planned a review will be carried out within six weeks.

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