Segregated cycleways

We are getting the city centre ready for some exciting developments. This includes a short demonstrator route for Coventry Very Light Rail (CVLR) and a fully segregated cycleway. These will help reduce air pollution and make the city centre a healthier and safer place.

The cycleway will be located alongside the CVLR demonstrator route, starting from Greyfriars Green (Starley statue) all the way to Pool Meadow bus station. Work will begin on installing the cycleway once the first 20m of the VLR is laid down in 2025.

Contraflow cycling scheme

Changes will also be made to allow cyclists to travel in the opposite direction on a number of one-way traffic streets. The following streets will become contraflow streets for cyclists:

• Bishop Street (from Tower Street to Ring Road)
• Cheylesmore
• Greyfriars Lane
• Lamb Street
• Manor Road
• Salt Lane
• St Patrick’s Road

This will make it easier for cyclists to access parts of the city centre that are further away from the proposed new segregated cycleway route.  In the main part, these works do not require substantial physical changes to the road, and there is no associated loss of car parking.

Who is it aimed at?

The cycleway has been developed and designed to accommodate the needs of people that do not usually cycle. In a recent survey, the biggest reason people gave for not cycling is that they are concerned about their safety, followed by a lack of confidence. The design of the cycleway aims to reduce those concerns by physically separating people on cycles with motor vehicles. 

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 0.5metre.

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 6.4m – this measurement doesn’t include the on-street parking in designated bays. Narrower roads help reduce traffic speeds, improving road safety for everyone.

How is the cycleway funded?

The City Centre cycleway is funded by the Government’s Active Travel Fund, which is only available for use on walking and cycling schemes.  This fund is also paying for changes to one-way streets to allow two-way cycling.

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.

When will the scheme be completed?

A construction timeline will be published as soon as it is confirmed, and updates will be pushed to this page to ensure people are kept informed.

Read more

• Cabinet Member report, 28 February 2024
  • Appendix D - Consultation report
  • Appendix F - Equality Impact Assessment