Consultation launched to decide if two-way cycle lane should remain
A CONSULTATION on whether to make a temporary two-way cycle lane permanent has been launched.
The fully segregated lane, on Sidmouth Street, was introduced during the summer of 2020 and Reading Borough Council is now seeking residents’ views on whether it should be a permanent fixture.
The two-way cycle lane was one of many emergency measures introduced by the council in the early part of the pandemic.
As part of funding rules, the government directed councils to install and promote new active travel options quickly, without any public consultation, to help with social distancing.
The cycle lane has subsequently remained in place, albeit with temporary status.
A statutory consultation has now been opened on whether it should be made permanent.
This is in the context that the Sidmouth Street cycle lane is intended to become a key link in the expansion of Reading’s future cycle network.
The cycle lane already links to shared-use cycle lanes along London Road and Wokingham Road.
It will also shortly provide a link to the permanent new Active Travel cycle lane which will be built by the council along the Shinfield Road later this year.
This will extend between Christchurch Green and Whitley Wood Road, linking south Reading and the Royal Berkshire Hospital, the University of Reading, local centres and Reading Town Centre.
Cllr Tony Page, lead councillor for climate strategy and transport, believes the Sidmouth Street cycle lane will be a “key component” in the council’s wider plans.
He said: “While it remains temporary in status at this time, and already links to shared-use lanes on the London and Wokingham Roads, the real benefits of this facility sit in both the immediate and longer-term future where it will become a key link in an expanded local cycle network.
“Over the coming months we will begin construction of a key strategic new cycle route along the Shinfield Road, after the council successfully bid for Tranche 2 Active Travel funding.
“The Sidmouth Street cycle lane will be a key component linking to this new facility.
“Longer term, the ambition has always been to build new cycle links from Sidmouth Street, in particular, to the Kennet towpath and to improve links to the London and Wokingham Roads.
“We will continue to look for funding opportunities to bring these improvements to fruition, as we have done successfully in the past.
“The reality is, however, this becomes much more difficult to achieve if the Sidmouth Street lane is removed in the short term.”
Cllr Page believes improved cycle links are crucial to the council’s environmental targets.
He added: “The council is committed to delivering realistic alternatives to the private car across Reading, in particular for shorter journeys, which thereby benefits local air quality, people’s health and our target of net-zero carbon by 2030.”
The consultation opened on Thursday, July 21, and the closing dates for comments is Wednesday, August 10.
All responses will be reported to the council’s traffic management sub-committee at its next meeting on Wednesday, September 14.
If a decision is made to make the Sidmouth Street cycle lane permanent, officers will undertake investigations into options.
Works would then be costed, designed and funding sources investigated.