A vast network of temporary cycle lanes are to be introduced in Liverpool to help kick-start the city’s recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson has today green lit a £2m package to introduce potentially up to 100km of pop-up cycle lanes along key routes into and within Liverpool city centre.
The programme of measures are also set to include new street furniture in the city centre to enable people to socialise safely at distance and ease the way for pavement cafes to operate once restrictions are lifted.
The move follows a review of traffic movements in the city on how best to support people going back to work as the government begins to slowly ease lockdown restrictions for certain sectors.
Two key corridors have already been identified for temporary cycle lanes – with five more major routes under review – and are set to be introduced by this weekend. They are:
Sefton Park Perimeter:
The route from Sefton Park – Aigburth Drive, across Ullet Road across Croxteth Road on to Sefton Park Road and along Lodge Lane. Across Upper Parliament Street junction and pick up cycle path on Smithdown Lane. From Crown Street on to Oxford Street East. Left on to Mason Street to Irvine Street. Across Edge Lane on to Mount Vernon Green and on to Hall Lane finish.
West Derby Road Route:
West Derby Road (junction with Green Lane inbound and outbound), Rocky Lane, back along West Derby Road, left on to Farnworth Street right on to Kensington.
As well as the network of temporary cycle lanes, the Mayor is also looking at thetemporary widening of pavements around transport hubs within the city centre to enable social distancing, and has instructed the Council’s Highways Department to revamp the citybike scheme.
Liverpool City Council is currently undertaking a £45m redesign of the city centre, which has seen widening of pavements on key routes such as Victoria Street, introducing 11km of new permanent cycle lanes and is about to look at expanding its 20mph zones, but the Mayor said the time has come to be “as radical as possible” to ensure the improvements to the city’s air quality in lockdown continue for years to come.
The Mayor is also inviting councillors, businesses and the public to come forward with ideas on how to improve access for cyclists and pedestrians around the city centre.
