Latest news with #cyclelane
BBC News
a day ago
- BBC News
Middlesbrough Linthorpe cycle lane injuries sees £85k in payouts
Injuries on an doomed cycle lane have seen a council pay out more than £85, Linthorpe Road route in Middlesbrough, which has faced backlash since it was installed in 2022 at a cost of £1.7m, will be removed later this people have fallen or tripped over the lane's ridged markers in that time, with Middlesbrough Council left with bill of £85,728 for 15 injury claim payouts, with six more claims still Labour-run local authority said claims were handled through its insurers who assessed liability and award compensation where appropriate. Both pedestrians and cyclists have fallen foul of the black-and-white rubber cycle lane dividers, with details of accidents confirmed by a Freedom of Information request by the Local Democracy Reporting claims from people who were injured in trips or falls over or on the cycle lane were made between the completion of the cycle lane in 2022 and July 2025. The installation has garnered overwhelming negative feedback over the years, being described as "disastrous" at a full council meeting in October Valley Combined Authority is footing the bill of more than £2m to strip out the cycle lane and reinstate the road, after government funding was originally used to install the lanes.A Middlesbrough Council spokesman said: "Around £85,000 has been paid in compensation to individuals in relation to the Linthorpe Road cycle lane. "All claims are handled through our insurers who assess liability and award compensation where appropriate." Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
5 days ago
- BBC News
Middlesbrough Linthorpe Road cycle lane safety measures to remain
Several road safety features will remain following the removal of a much-derided and short-lived cycle Linthorpe Road route in Middlesbrough has faced backlash since it was installed in 2022 at a cost of £1.7m. Work to strip it out will now begin on 26 August at a cost of £ Mayor Chris Cooke said a pedestrian crossing installed as part of the initial works would be retained, as well as the reduced 20mph speed limit on the Labour mayor confirmed some side streets which connect to Linthorpe Road will remain shut to cars and other vehicles, while road narrowing measures would also stay. In response to a freedom of information request, Middlesbrough Council said a smaller proportion of injuries on Linthorpe Road had involved cyclists after the cycle lane was installed compared to the years said between 2015 and 2021 there were 57 injuries on the road of which 23% involved between 2022 and 2024, after the cycle lane had been installed, just 12% of the 26 injuries recorded involved cyclists. Drug dealer 'bike run' Road narrowing at junctions on the road will also be kept, the local authority said, to reduce vehicle speed and pedestrian crossing Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) is footing the bill to remove the cycle lane which was dubbed "an absolute disaster" by the owner of the nearby Madame Rouge vintage pub and traders reported falling custom and blamed a shortage of parking and drop-off Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said on BBC Radio Tees on Wednesday that the cycle lane was largely used by children "causing problems" and drug dealers who used it as a "bike run to be able to get through traffic".Cooke said: "We're still committed to encouraging active travel, including walking and cycling, but they need to be the right schemes in the right places." Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
22-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Middlesbrough's Linthorpe Road cycle lane removal work due to start
Work to remove a much-derided cycle lane will begin next month, Middlesbrough's mayor has Linthorpe Road route has faced a backlash since it was installed in 2022, with concerns over cyclists and pedestrians being injured, and businesses branding it a "disaster" due to it taking up parking Chris Cooke said his pledge to remove the cycle lane, which cost £1.7m and was approved under his predecessor Andy Preston, would soon be Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) is paying to reinstate the road and work will begin on 26 August. Last summer, the lane was dubbed "an absolute disaster" by the owner of Madame Rouge vintage pub and tearooms, with other traders reporting falling custom due to a shortage of parking and drop-off concerns centred around several cyclists and pedestrians being injured while using the new layout, which was paid for using £1.7m of government funding, given to the council by the TVCA, aimed at encouraging active Cooke said: "After listening to businesses and residents I pledged the cycle lane would go. "We do want to encourage more people to cycle and walk, but future schemes have to be in the right place and learn the lessons from this saga." Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
15-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
New cycle lane among planned traffic changes in Exeter
A new cycle lane is among proposed changes with the aim of reducing traffic in Exeter to be discussed on Exeter Highways and Traffic Orders Committee (Hatoc) has put together plans to close off one road to motor vehicles and change waiting and parking restrictions in the Newtown area of the city.A contraflow cycle lane would be installed on Clifton Hill with a budget of just over £450,000 for all of the proposed project is the first major scheme put forward by the committee following widespread public anger and a subsequent policy U-turn over the low traffic neighbourhood (LTN) in the Heavitree area of Exeter. Foot and cycle The decision will be made by Hatoc - made up of councillors from Exeter City Council and Devon County Council - which is due to meet at County Hall at 14:00 political make-up of the committee has changed since the May elections at Devon County Council and now includes four Reform UK councillors, as well as four Labour members, three Greens, one Liberal Democrat and one plans recommend closing off part of Russell Street to cars and changing parking and waiting restrictions on Belmont Road, Clifton Hill, Clifton Street and Heavitree to a report prepared ahead of the meeting, Devon County Council wants "50% of all local trips to be undertaken by foot and by cycle in Exeter by 2030".
BBC News
23-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Gloucester city centre cycle path work labelled 'a disgrace'
Concerns have been raised about the impact the construction of a new cycle lane is having on Gloucester city has begun to install the new lane on Northgate Street, with railings, paving stones and benches being removed as part of the councillors claim they did not get a say on the project, which falls under the control of Gloucestershire County councillor Joe Harris, Cabinet Member for Highways Maintenance & Communications said he was "sorry to hear" there were concerns but added residents had been consulted before work began. The cycle lane will form part of the county's cycle spine connecting Bishop's Cleeve with Stroud via Cheltenham and Gloucester. 'It's a disgrace' Liberal Democrat city councillor Rebecca Trimnell said she hoped the cycle lane would look better than it currently does when it is finished, but was not confident."I cannot see it is in keeping with the historic nature of the centre. I have had many people tell me they liked sitting on the benches outside St John's Church on Northgate Street, but now they've been taken out and the railings too," she said."At present it is a disgrace and quite frankly a total and utter mess and is simply not good enough." Councillor Harris said that he was sorry for the disruption."We really value what the community and local groups think. That's why we held a public consultation and spoke directly with key people like the city council before starting the work."We listened to the feedback and made changes where we could", he added.
