Temporary cycle lanes installed during the Covid-19 pandemic across Liverpool have moved a step closer to becoming permanent.
In Spring 2020, lanes were set up on three routes including Vauxhall Road, West Derby Road, and Sefton Park to the City Centre. They are now in a poor state of repair and have been deemed unfit for purpose.
Liverpool Council has launched a public consultation on the permanent adoption of the routes which, while well used, have become an issue in terms of maintenance. A report to the local authority’s cabinet in October said initially the pop-up schemes were never intended to be permanent highway measures, but rather a “relatively low cost and rapid method of implementing segregated cycle schemes over long lengths to encourage cycling as a result of the pandemic.”
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However, the council’s highways department has recommended that permanent schemes along the length of the three routes are achieved as soon as possible before they degrade to such an extent that they need to be removed altogether. The report said that soon after the opening of the lanes two years ago, some elements of the schemes began to rapidly become damaged with vehicle strikes knocking over and damaging the bolt-down bollards.
It said: “Maintenance of these schemes therefore became a real issue for the council. The routes were also found to be very difficult to keep clear of debris due to a lack of cleaning equipment that could fit within the pop-up cycle lanes.
“Consequently, sections of the cycle lanes became obstructed with loose bollards, leaves and other debris – and hence, difficult to navigate by cyclists and causing trip hazards for pedestrians.” The local authority also incurred the ire of the UK Government when part of the pop-up route for West Derby Road towards the City Centre was removed due to a major water main burst on an adjacent route.
As a result, a subsequent grant was reduced by 25% and there was a view that the council did not support active travel. A series of public engagement events are to be held next week at Victory Outreach, 122 Sheil Road on Tuesday, Vauxhall Millenium Centre on Wednesday 23rd, and Sefton Park Community Association, Croxteth Drive on Thursday.
All events will be held between 4pm and 8pm. A decision will be made by March next year.
The schemes have proven to be popular with users however, with figures showing during May this year, more than 20,000 journeys were made by cyclists along West Derby Road and Vauxhall Road. It is thought that bringing the routes upto suitable condition and making them permanent installations could cost around £7m.
Cllr Dan Barrington, Liverpool Council cabinet member for climate and environment, said: “The outbreak of the pandemic underlined the fact that Liverpool needs more active travel corridors. It is been a huge priority for the council over the past two years and a significant amount of progress has been made to provide more access and more options to walk and cycle.
“These three original pop-up routes are no longer fit for purpose and desperately need to be upgraded. These proposals have been designed to provide ease of access to and from the city centre and to connect up with the other new routes and infrastructure we are building.
“We want to hear from as many as possible to help ensure these proposals are right and will work. If these are approved after this consultation then this will be a major step forward in developing a network of quality active travel facilities.”
Simon O’Brien, Liverpool City Region’s Cycling Commissioner, added: “Liverpool’s pop-up lanes were put in hastily to give people an alternative way of getting around instead of public transport when the Coronavirus was rife. This meant they were far from perfect but it gave the council a one-off opportunity to study what worked and what didn’t and turn the best elements into permanent cycle lanes.
“Now it’s our turn to give them vital feedback to make sure they are absolutely top notch. I believe this improved infrastructure will be a massive step forward for our cycle network as Liverpool continues catching up with other active cities.”
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