Segregated cycleways

A high-quality cycle network is an important part of our Transport Strategy, helping to address several challenges:

• Tackling climate change
• Improving health outcomes for local people
• Improving road safety
• Supporting the city’s economic recovery
• Reducing levels of economic inequality
• Maximising the benefits of planned transport improvements
• Meeting travel demand arising from new homes
• Adapting to changes in the way that people live, work and travel

We have already delivered two showcase segregated cycleways in the city:

• Coundon Cycleway – connecting the city centre to Coundon
• Binley Cycleway – connecting Coventry University to Binley and University Hospital

Work continues to further improve and extend these routes.

Our Transport Strategy aims to develop a complete network of cycleways spanning the city, including:

• City centre cycleway
• Foleshill cycleway
• London Road cycleway
• Eastern Green cycleway
• Coundon cycleway extension to Keresley

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 0.5 metres.

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. Narrower roads help reduce traffic speeds, improving road safety for everyone.

Wider roads with good visibility lead to motorists travelling faster. Narrower roads can help reduce speeds in residential areas. 

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.