Segregated cycleways

Coundon Cycleway is a 2.75km two-way, fully segregated cycleway along the Coundon Road/Barker’s Butts Lane corridor linking the city centre with Coundon Green. This has been delivered as part of a package of measures to improve the air quality in Coventry. This money was given to the council by national government, for specific schemes in the Spon End and Holyhead Road areas designed to tackle air quality problems generated by motor vehicles. Coundon Cycleway is the city’s first high-quality “showcase” cycleway, and the design approach has since been followed on Binley Cycleway

The design of Coundon Cycleway aims to provide an easy and comfortable cycling experience that new and existing cyclists feel confident using. The route is direct and gives cyclists protection from traffic and prioritised travel through junctions.

The route is complete between Bablake School and Norman Place Road. The section between Bablake School and the Ring Road is awaiting completion as part of the Local Air Quality Action Plan. Pending completion of the scheme, a link was also created along Middleborough Road providing an alternative route away from town, avoiding the unfinished section of cycleway along Coundon Road.

Route

• Norman Place Road
• Bablake Playing Fields
• Hollyfast Road
• Christ the King
• Westhill shops
• Barkers Butts Lane
• Moseley Park
• Coundon shops
• Bablake School
• Coundon Road
• Naul's Mill Park

What does it look like?

The cycleway is a section of the highway dedicated for the use of people on cycles. It is positioned between the footpath and the road and is be physically separated from both using kerbs and a change in level. It has priority over side roads that it crosses and it’s own traffic signals at junctions and crossings.

Who is it aimed at?

The cycleway has been designed to help people that do not currently cycle because they fear for their safety. In a recent survey across the West Midlands, the biggest reason given for people not cycling is that they are ‘concerned about safety’ and the second reason is that people state they are ‘not confident cycling’.

In response to the survey, more than three out of four people think cycling safety isn’t good enough – and even more think it isn’t good enough for children. The cycleway has been designed with safety as the main aim by physically separating people on cycles from vehicular traffic. It is also direct and comfortable to ride on.

What are some of the benefits of cycling?

• Improves physical health - regular cycling can reduce the risk of chronic illnesses such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes and stroke. It can also reduce the risks caused by an inactive lifestyle such as obesity, high blood pressure and high cholesterol
• Improves social inclusion - access to safe cycling facilities enables more people to take part in society by improving the ability and opportunity to travel
• Improves mental health - Cycling can reduce stress, ease anxiety and reduce the risk of depression. Cycling also helps you sleep better, improves your memory and helps you feel good.
• Improves air quality - fewer car trips being made means less pollution. Poor air quality is one of the top five risks to public health in the UK
• Improves access to employment, education and leisure - cycling takes you from door to door. It opens up opportunities to households without a car and increases the number of possible destinations available compared to bus users

Frequently asked questions

Why is the Cycleway so wide?

The cycleway is “bi-directional” which means people on cycles pass each other in opposite directions and so the cycleway needs to be wide enough to allow this to happen safely. A typical upright cycle requires a width of one metre, but tricycles, recumbent cycles and physically adapted cycles require up to 1.2m, plus room to pass each other. Design standards, therefore, require a width of 3m and a buffer between the cycleway and road of at least 0.5metre.

Why is the road now so narrow?

When working out the width of a road, we need to consider factors such as how much traffic there will be, the type and mix of traffic, the speed limit and what other activity may take place on street such as loading or parking.

Two cars can pass in a width of 4.8 metres and two lorries can pass at 5.5 metres. However, the narrowest section of road left over after the cycleway is 6.2m – this measurement doesn’t include the on-street parking in designated bays. Hollyfast Road is now 6.8 metres wide which allows two cars to pass an occasional parked car on the carriageway, but larger vehicles would have to give way. Because Hollyfast Road has a low number of large vehicles and on-carriageway parking, a small amount of ‘give and take’ in this suburban residential location is acceptable as it helps reduce traffic speed.

How was the cycleway funded?

Coundon Cycleway was funded by a government grant that can only be used to implement the Local Air Quality Action Plan.

Why can’t people just cycle on the roads?

Over half of the people asked tell us that safety is the largest barrier to cycling and a quarter of people say a lack of confidence is also an issue.

We want to help more people be able to cycle. Cycling has significant health and economic benefits as well as helping to reduce pollutants that cause poor air quality. We know that cycle tracks on roads that are physically separated from traffic and pedestrians enable more people to cycle.

When will the scheme be completed?

We are under a legal obligation from national government to deliver the Air Quality Action Plan. This includes completion of the Coundon Cycleway. However, recent completion of the works at Spon End and Junction 7 need to be evaluated before we continue with the plan or ask the government to allow us to make changes to the plan. More updates will be released on this page when we have a confirmed scheme and construction timescale.