Pop-up bike lanes and other temporary measures designed to boost cycling and walking on the Isle of Wight, including preventing cars from driving along Little London, look set to be introduced — thanks to a £64,000 emergency active travel grant.
6 schemes will make it easier for people to use bikes to get around, take pressure off public transport and encourage Islanders to look after their health during the current pandemic.
Although temporary in nature — and therefore not subject to the usual levels of public consultation — each one will remain under close review and adapted where necessary, taking into account residents’ views and any unforeseen issues.
The schemes include:
• Bridge over Dodnor Creek (Cement Mills viaduct), Newport – The bridge will be made cycle-friendly by removing the 2 bollards at either end. Ice warning lights will also be installed to warn cyclists where the bridge surface may be frozen.
• Beckford Road, Cowes — cycle contraflow – Beckford Road will be made one way for vehicles between Gordon Road and Westhill Road, with a cycle contraflow installed. Parking will be relocated from one side of the road to the other.
• Kitbridge Road, Newport — staggered barriers – Removal of railings to improve cycle accessibly between Kitbridge Road and Hazel Close.
• Little London, Newport – prohibition of motor vehicles – No longer a through road to improve safety for walking and cycling – vehicular access to homes and businesses only. Parking under the bridge will be removed to widen the road. Double yellow lines between the Bargemans and Quay Arts.
• Holyrood Street, Newport — one way and cycle contraflow – Holyrood Street to be made one way between Lugley Street and High Street and a cycle contraflow introduced. Parallel parking introduced to allow more room for safer cycling.
• Quay Street Newport — cycle rack – A cycle rack will be installed to enable people to park their bikes safely.
With social distancing reducing the capacity of public transport, Councillor Ian Ward, Cabinet member for transport and infrastructure, said alternative options like cycling and walking were being encouraged for making journeys. He said:
“We’re really pleased to have received this funding from the government’s Emergency Active Travel Fund to help us install temporary measures to help support social distancing and safe travel.
“During this crisis many Islanders have discovered cycling — whether for exercise or as a means of safe, socially-distanced transport.
“We need these people to stay on their bikes and be joined by many more. Cycling is much better for your health, the planet and for your wallet than taking the car.
“These new pop-up lanes and active travel improvements should make it much easier for people to get about and hopefully help encourage more people to ditch the car.
“We know cars will continue to remain vital for many, but as we look to the future we must build an Island with greener travel habits and healthier communities.”
CycleWight has said that, in their opinion, the Isle of Wight Council does not appear to have honoured the proposals about giving better quality space to pedestrians and cyclists. They say that it appears very little space is to be sacrificed by car users at all.
Although the initial phase is focused very much on Newport and Cowes, the council has already applied for additional funds to roll out similar improvements in other parts of the Island.
Some of the schemes involve only minor alterations to the highway, such as the removal of bollards and barriers to open up more space for pedestrians and cyclists, or the addition of cycle racks at convenient locations.
Others, however, will see streets made temporarily one way to vehicles with designated cycle contraflows installed to allow cyclists to travel safely.
Island Roads is due to start work next week with the measures expected to remain in place for around 18 months.
Faboulous! Extra money for bikes ..extra 500mill for a new spit test but londoners are told too come here too get tested! Such a great example of money thrown at the wrong things
more bikes getting in the way they should ban them the roads are for cars also ban horses.
I agree I have ridden for years but do not think its safe anymore for horses to be on the main roads. Island roads are to busy now
I’m sorry to say I’d have more confidence in this scheme if it was a completely different councillor proposing it.
Are they going to put bollards UP at the bottom of High Street at Coppins Bridge? Signage says to dismount in the gap in the cycle path. No one ever does, maybe bollards would make them. This is for the safety of pedestrians walking down to crossing in order to cross over Coppins Bridge to Barton Road. I have never seen one cyclist actually dismount. This includes people with their children on bikes, Lycra cyclists and once even a certain “green” councillor. I have been sworn at and received arrogant shakes of the head, implying I am in the wrong, because I was standing waiting to cross road but was in the way of a non dismounted, speeding cylist.
I suggest you read the Highway Code before commenting,the dismount signs are in blue and white which means they are advisory ,they would have to have be circular with a red outline around them to be compulsory.
I would have preferred for the £64,000 to be spent on keeping the school buses in full service, if you want our children back at school then make sure all children are able to travel on a school bus instead of forcing more cars on the roads with parents having to drive children to school. I am fed up with this council making the island look a complete laughing stock with their crazy ideas and shambolic decision making.
OMFG another complete waste of time & money from this council
” Ice warning lights will also be installed to warn cyclists ”
presumably cyclists don’t have enough sense to understand when it might be icy.
are they going to install them on all pavements as well, so pedestrians know when the pavement might be slippery?
How does the cost of these lights compare with sprinkling a shovel full of grit on the surface every time the roads are gritted?
“Little London, Newport … No longer a through road to improve safety for walking and cycling – vehicular access to homes and businesses only. ”
well that won’t make any difference then,… most people only drive down there to get to the Bargeman’s anyway!
& how many cyclists will actually use the route via Holyrood to lugley street, ?
I’ve never seen queues of bikes on the high street to being held up by traffic, while they try to get there.
I just wish cyclist respected the rules of the road, and had insurance..
Good point Truth. I’ve never understood why they are not insurance liable if riding on a highway with other traffic. Could someone explain that to me?
It’s really is to have bikes on main roads should just stick to the 40 speed limit
All they need to do now is learn how to ride correctly, i.e, single file, obey the highway code and stop at traffic lights when red etc.
Lastly i believe they should also be insured when going on the highway and have their cycles removed like a vehicle if they are not.
Could the council do something about the bikes going up Bath Rd the wrong way and the High Street.
Looks like they still expect everybody to ride along the Cowes cycle track, aka dog sh!t alley. Too far out of the way for me, but there are still no allowances for cyclists on the new magic roundabout. Not a lot for £64000 is it? somebody must be getting an extra bonus in their wage packet.
The photo says it all push bikes already think they own the roads, 2 a brest down a country road. Give them an inch and they will take a mile, im not anti bike I ride one myself but I unlike most respect other road users and obey the highway code. pushbikes in contra flow with one way cars, thats an accident definately going to happen and it will be the motorists fault of course.
I think police should enforce the highway code stop cyclists going the wrong way in 1 way streets .Red lights mean stop even cyclists and more
Where separate cycle tracks already exist, such as along the “racecourse” between the Crem roundabout and onwards towards Newport, it should be made compulsory for cyclists to use them rather than impeding long lines of vehicles that are unable to safely overtake them on the main road.
Did you comment back on my response to the stranded vessel Ivor?
Cyclist get away with a lot of things drivers would get the book thrown at them for , there a bloody pain in the ass on the roads .
And yes they should have insurance and made to contribute For the upkeep of cycle tracks when used ,.
cyclist are just as capable of causing a serious injury /death to another person in any way or form whilst out riding .They should be insured 100%
Personally I do not have a problem with vast majority of cyclists I find leisure and commuter ones are well mannered but if there is ever any issues between cyclists and motorists 90% of the time it’s with the “lycra lout roadie type” I don’t know if it’s the spandex that causes it. I’ve never met such an aggressive and bad mannerd group probably there sole purpose is to cause as much chaos as possible while trying to come top of some poxy app. If the government is promoting cycling they should seriously start looking at a registration I. D that’s worn on the riders back and also every cyclist from a certain age should have by law public liability insurance to protect pedestrians etc. Also if a cycling lane is avaliable they should use that to protect them. Whats unfair is cyclist can jump junctions run red lights nearly hot pedestrians when they go from road to pavement to avoid waiting at a red light so a fair system should be introduced that makes it fair to all parties.
Until bicycle owners are forced to take a test to ensure they understand the Highway Code, are forced to register their bicycles so bad behaviour can be tracked down, and forced to contribute towards the costs that their selfish behaviour costs the rest of us, they should be banned from public roads as they are a menace.
What’s needed more is an improvement of surface of the existing cycle path from Arreton to Newport. The current flint surface cuts into bike tires.
I totally agree cycle path is falling into disrepair.
Not Ward again, another white elephant cock up
Completely unnecessary and likely to cause more accidents than it prevents.I do cycle around the town. If you meet a car by the Bargemans get off.
Democracy is dead. Yet again the majority (in this case, road tax paying car owners) are penalised to pacify the minority (non-road tax paying, uninsured cyclists). The idiots that came up with this dumb-arsed idea are obviously Guardian-reading, vegan, non car owners. We all know the type. Supercilious morons who think they know best, but in fact know bugger all.
There’s a difference between people on bikes and cyclists.
Will the new paths keep the idiots of the pavements as blind person it is deadly but if I say anything I take a lot of abuse John jji