IMPROVEMENTS for cycling into and around Sunderland city centre are being proposed.
The proposals from the City Council come after it was awarded a £800,000 grant from the North East Combined Authority’s Sustainable Transport Fund.
This fund helps schemes that encourage walking, cycling, using public transport, or car sharing.
Proposals include introducing more cycle lanes, shared spaces, and improvements to help encourage city centre cycling. In total, improvements to 4.3km or 2.6 miles of routes are proposed.
More than 800 consultation forms have been distributed to businesses and residents in and around the city centre.
Councillor Michael Mordey, Portfolio Holder for City Services, said: “Cycling continues to grow in popularity and, alongside our city’s cyclists, we have many hundreds who visit our as part of the national C2C route or other networks.
“These city centre proposals are about encouraging more cycling with routes added to existing roads and highways, and updates. The council wants to hear what people think.”
Proposals include:
* Improvements for cycling in Park Lane, Olive and Derwent streets;
* Improvements for cyclists along the north side of St Mary’s Boulevard;
* A new route through Borough Road, Laura, Murton and Tatham streets for cycling in Sunniside and Hendon;
* An improved route for cycling into the city centre in Borough Road and Fawcett Street;
* Improvements for cycling into the city centre along St Thomas Street;
* Secure cycle parking, changing and storage facilities at St Mary’s Multi-storey Car Park.
Large scale versions of the drawings will be displayed in the foyer of the City Library to Thursday 24 March 2016. If you would like to discuss the proposals in more detail, officers from the council’s Infrastructure and Commercial Team are at the library tomorrow (Thursday 17 March) between 1 and 2pm, Tuesday 22 between 12 noon – 1pm and Thursday 24 between 1 – 2pm.
Details are also available on the council’s website using the following link:http://www.sunderland.gov.uk/