Civic Society makes case for safe cycling on Leeds Road, Huddersfield

Moortown roundabout, Leeds: A dedicated cycle route has been engineered into a busy junction. It was funded by WYCA, as will be the Leeds Road Smart Corridor

By Chas Ball
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​HCS has submitted counter proposals to the Leeds Road (A62) Smart Corridor consultation on Phase 1 from Huddersfield Railway Station to Fieldhouse Lane.

The Society's response says that the proposed route does not provide a continuously safe cycle despite the Council’s proposal to “upgrade the existing cycle provision to include separate cycle ways and on-road cycle lanes”. 

In its evidence, HCS says that the scheme fails to achieve the aim of encouraging more cycling because “it is severely compromised by designing cycling to take place in close proximity to heavy traffic. 

“Constructing protected cycle lanes for a part of the route provides only limited incentives to those considering cycling as a means of transport.

“Until the scheme is redesigned to allow for continuously safe cycling, we feel unable to comment on the detailed proposals. Instead we propose an alternative separate route that is largely parallel to the Leeds Road.

“We need to be confident that residents and school students will use this route. The criteria for an acceptable route is one that would be suitable for a school pupil who has achieved Bikeabilty level 3 which ‘equips riders with the skill and confidence to ride in more challenging roads and traffic situations – busier streets, queuing traffic, complex junctions and roundabouts. It also includes planning routes for safe cycling.’”

In its overview paper, HCS says: “The basic principles of the scheme are not in line with the Leeds City Region Climate Change Emergency policies. If implemented this scheme will make it more difficult to achieve the 2038 zero emissions target adopted by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

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