Cycling gets easier through Lancaster City Centre
Further improvement works have now been completed in Lancaster city centre to make it safer and easier for cyclists to get into and around the town’s busy one-way system.
Lancaster city centre is the main focus of future cycling infrastructure schemes via Lancaster City Council's Cycling Town Project and earlier this year, work started on a scheme right in the heart of the city centre.
The works in and around Church Street, include an on-road contra flow cycle lane on upper Church Street for westbound cyclists and an upgrade of the signal controlled crossing on China Street to a toucan crossing to provide access to the railway station, the west side of the city and the Millennium Bridge and beyond.
On the middle section of Church Street (traffic restricted area) signs are now in place giving cyclists the right to cycle in both directions at all times. Cyclists should ride responsibly along this section and give way to pedestrians. Cyclists should also dismount and push their bikes in other areas of the traffic restricted zone.
Road markings have also been introduced on Bridge Lane and Damside Street.
Other plans for the city centre include:
- contra flow cycling on Lower Church Street and North Road (linking with Stonewell and Moor Lane)
- ongoing improvements at Penny Street Bridge junction including proposed contra flow cycling on Penny Street (as far as Common Garden St)
- new/enhanced cycle lane markings on the one way system
- two new toucan crossings on over Thurnham Street and King Street
Coun Jon Barry, cabinet member with responsibility for cycling said: “It is our vision to have a more joined - up network of cycle lanes through and around Lancaster City Centre compared to that which already exists. The completion of these works will improve safety for cyclists wishing to travel north or south around the one way system or just wanting to be able to utilise short sections to access or cross the town centre.”
For more information on ongoing and recent infrastructure work please visit www.celebratingcycling.org/improvements
Date Published: 21/10/09