All the temporary active travel cycling schemes aimed at helping with social distancing and reducing the spread of the coronavirus are now in place.
The final scheme was completed in mid-November – while one was scrapped after just one week – and we have checked them all out.
How did Reading get nine (now eight) new active travel-focused schemes?
The nationwide scheme to help with social distancing during the Covid pandemic was announced on May 9, and councils were urged to speedily introduce significant changes to roads, with a promise that funding would follow.
Reading Borough Council (RBC) received £221,240 in July in the first round of Department for Transport (DfT) funding for schemes aimed at helping with social distancing during the pandemic, less than the amount it had initially been allocated.
Nine schemes were initially planned, but one of these schemes, on London Road, was later ‘put on hold’ and moved into tranche two due to the limited funding.
READ MORE: London Road cycling lanes ‘effectively on hold’
The council pushed ahead with eight schemes and seven of these have now been completed – although one has since been removed. You can see where the temporary schemes are on this map.
Here are the schemes - let us know what you think in the comments
Reading Bridge - cycle lanes on both side
Southampton Street, Silver Street and Mount Pleasant - cycle lanes going up Silver Street/Mount Pleasant and down Southampton Street
Sidmouth Street - temporary one-way restriction and lane closure to provide a segregated two-way cycle lane
Whitley Street - cycle lanes on both sides
Oxford Road (Tilehurst) - cycle lanes and logos
Oxford Road (Norcot to town centre) - cycle logos and a short cycle lane from Wantage Road to Reading Retail Park
Redlands Road - Cycle logos
Christchurch Road - cycle lanes on both sides
Additionally, a one-way system on Gosbrook Road and Westfield Road was completed in late August but was then scrapped just one week later, after causing traffic chaos.
READ MORE: ‘Horror’ Caversham one-way system scrapped by council after just one week
Officers will review each temporary tranche one scheme in early 2021 and hold public consultations before deciding whether to make any of them permanent.
Are there more schemes coming?
Yes. There is a second round of DfT funding, which is for long-term schemes.
The council bid for £4 million worth of schemes but has only been given funding of £1.18 million, the amount the government initially suggested it would get.
READ MORE: Reading Borough Council announces plans for phase two of Active Travel Bid
The potential schemes are:
- Southampton Street and Oracle Roundabout - segregated cycle lane
- Bath Road/Castle Hill - segregated lane for cyclists to and from the town centre
- Shinfield Road - segregated two-way cycle lane, linking to the phase one schemes on Redlands Road and Christchurch Road
- London Road (borough boundary to Cemetery Junction) - inbound shared bus and cycle lane, plus shared bus and cycle route outside Royal Berks.
- Forbury Road/Vastern Roundabout - Segregated two-way cycle lane by reallocating road space from general traffic on this section of the IDR.
The council is currently considering which of the schemes to go ahead with, using the limited funding.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel