Reading will get new segregated cycle lanes in both directions on a major road going from south Reading to the university.
Shinfield Road was chosen out of four potential schemes by the council after receiving the most support and least opposition in a public consultation that received around 1,000 responses.
The cycle lanes will run along both sides of Shinfield Road, from Christchurch Green to Shinfield Rise, going in each direction.
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The scheme will be funded with the £1,179,000 awarded to Reading Borough Council (RBC) by the Government’s Active Travel fund.
RBC has also won funding for a cycle hub in the town centre.
Councillor Tony Page, lead member for Strategic Environment, Planning and Transport, said: “Proceeding with the Shinfield Road scheme will enable us to show the sort of scheme that can make a real difference.
“This is a scheme that links with work we have done at Christchurch Green and in the Redlands area.
“It helps the university and goes the full length of Shinfield Road within the borough.
“It can be a flagship in showing motorists that there is a safer option than travelling into Reading by car.”
Cllr Page said the cycle lanes will be “clearly segregated” and will meet standards required by the Government, including meeting the minimum width.
Further work will be done to iron out the details of the scheme, which will then also be consulted on.
The three schemes that were not chosen are:
- Bath Road: Mostly segregated cycle lanes from Southcote Road to the IDR.
- London Road: Segregated cycle lanes from Cemetery Junction to Kendrick Road.
- Southampton Street: Two-way segregated cycle lanes from Crown Street to Bridge Street
Cllr Page said Bath Road/Castle Hill scheme would likely be next in line if further funding becomes available.
Reading to get cycle hub
The council has also secured funding for a cycle hub, where people will be able to safely store bicycles and which could include a cafe.
“It would very much be the centrepiece of a range of measures that can enable us to address the concerns that many cyclists have expressed over the years about security in the town centre.
“It’s all very well, they say, encouraging us to come in by cycling but is there somewhere really secure for us to park our bike?
“Because bicycle thefts in Reading have been on an industrial scale at times and are still high in Reading.
“Even cyclists with very substantial chains on their bikes have found them stolen because of the bolt cropping and sheer gall and nerve of some of the thieves is such that they will wander around and target bikes that have been securely padlocked.
“As well as being able to leave your bike at the cycle hub, volunteer staff would offer advice about cycling, and there may be a coffee shop.
“This would be a really important development in being able to further incentivise safe cycling into and out of Reading.”
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The cycle hub would be part of a package of schemes including:
- Adult cycle training
- Cycle maintenance training
- School travel planning
- Cycle loan schemes
- Secure cycle hub
Councillor Paul Gittings, chair of the SEPT committee, said the cycle hub will be an “excellent development” for the town.
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