Proposals to avoid post-lockdown gridlock in York

York Civic Trust and York Cycle Campaign have teamed up to develop a blueprint they hope could help York to avoid gridlock after lockdown.

They fear that with many people still reluctant to use public transport, a rush of cars taking to the roads once lockdown is over could lead to the city’s streets being more congested and polluted than ever.

They have urged City of York Council to make quick use of its share of a £250 million pot of Government cash for walking and cycling to introduce a series of changes to the city’s transport network that will make it easier and safer for pedestrians and cyclists.

Their proposals include:

• Schemes to give cyclists priority at Lendal and Skeldergate Bridges;
• Improved crossing facilities on the Inner Ring Road to avoid pedestrians having to cluster at traffic lights;
• A bus-only section on Gillygate, where social distancing is particularly difficult.
• Widening pavements at many locations in the city centre and on the approaches, using decking rather than cones where people congregate;
• Park and cycle facilities at all six park and ride sites, with high quality cycle routes to the city centre;
• Improvements to the orbital cycle route and new links from the villages;
• Improvements to the cycle route from Micklegate Bar to Stonebow, including a bus-only section across Ouse Bridge and one way traffic in Coppergate.

Professor Tony May, chair of York Civic Trust’s Transport Advisory Group:

“If we can reallocate road space to allow as many people as possible to access York safely, this in turn will support the recovery of business and tourism.

We have called upon the voluntary contributions of many experts to help develop this programme.

We fully appreciate that the programme which we outline above is substantial, will require significant initial investment and continued resources for maintenance and enforcement, and will in parts be controversial.

But it is essential that York adopts a visionary programme of this kind if it is to be successful in responding to the government’s challenge.”

Kate Ravilious, of York Cycle Campaign:

“We'd like everyone to be involved and have established a Commonplace interactive map for residents to suggest where space for walking and cycling is needed.

Meanwhile, we'd like to see the Council keep people safe and address priority locations immediately.

Our petition, which asks the council to make space for walking and cycling during the Covid crisis, now has over 2000 signatures, demonstrating that residents want to see this change.

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