Why we want better bike facilities on Aylestone Rd

This article should have been published ages ago. Anyway, in January, Dave Warnock (@dave42w) bravely did a lap of Freemans Common on his cargo bike – with a camera bolted to it.

If you think that Tigers Way looks like a pleasant bike route, please use it (carefully!). If, like many of us, you find it terrifying – that’s why we want a safe 2 way route past the rugby ground (hospital side) to link Aylestone Road / Saffron Lane to town.

Here are the YouTube links.

Aylestone Road 1
Tigers Way 1
Tigers Way 2
Tigers Way 3
Tigers Way 4

Update 25/3/2013

Despite numerous representations to Leicestershire County Council (the lead on this project), LCCG remain unconvinced that the work planned for the A426 will significanty improve conditions for cyclists on this route. There will be some more bus lanes but these are non continuous and there will be no attempt to give cyclists space or time to get across the large and intimidating junction at Soar Valley way, or the complex Middleton St / Wigston lane junction.

It is also clear that the route will still not appeal to anybody other than those willing to cycle in heavy traffic – (understandably) a minority in Leicester.

This is largely due to the fact that this project was explicitly aimed at improving conditions for bus users – the bid ignored the needs of cyclists.

A crumb of comfort may be found in plans from Leicester City Council to make Granby Road two way for cyclists but this project is in its early stages.

A426 Aylestone Road Bus Corridor

First consulted on in 2009, Aylestone Road has been highlighted as being particularly congested, which has adverse effects on bus journey times. A joint bid was submitted to the Better Bus Improvement Fund by the city and county which was approved in March 2012. The bid consists of physical changes to the route to make more bus lanes and change some significant junctions along the route.

Because this is a bid to improve bus journey times, cycling gets little mention (except as an option in travel planning – leaflets coming soon). However, this is a significant route into Leicester and this scheme could make conditions significantly better for cycling along that route. .

Consultation on the plans took place in October 2012.

Update 6/1/2012

The scheme has been approved by Leicestershire county council, much to the dismay of the anti campaign on the county end of the A426. Leicester city council has published more documents on the scheme, including a recommendation from the planners that the council approves it.

News stories on the bid

Leicester Mercury (plenty of stories!)

BBC

Consultation Docs

Leicestershire CC project webpage

Project consultation flyer

Our response to the Consultation Document