Praise for new cycle lane plans but 'we need more'

Cyclists have praised investment in a new cycle lane on a section of the A52, but say more work is needed to make them feel safe.

Paul Stewart, a bicycle mechanic, welcomed the addition of a cycle lane on the "very busy" stretch of road between the Priory and Queen's Medical Centre (QMC) roundabouts in Nottingham.

However, he said "our cycling infrastructure is nowhere near where it should be".

Ian Doust, programme development manager from National Highways in the Midlands, said the roadworks due to start later in May would "provide the travel standards that cyclists and pedestrians need".

Mr Stewart, who lives in Derbyshire but cycles to The Bike Lounge in Beeston for work, has said he avoids the A52 on his commute as "it's not very cycling-friendly".

"Most cyclists tend to try and find a quieter road, especially in the rush hour because they don't want to fight with the traffic," he said.

"So the fact that they're building and improving the cycle infrastructure has got to be a good thing."

Once the cycle lane is finished he would be able to take "a more direct route into the city", he added.

However Mr Stewart emphasised that improvements were needed in the rest of the city.

"If you compare us to cities in Europe in particular, we are way behind where we should be in terms of reducing traffic congestion and encouraging people to use forms of transport other than cars."

John McCay, who runs the Beeston Cycle Club, said cycle lanes needed to be "universal".

"It's all well and good on that part of the road, but then the cycle lane will stop," he added.

"From the QMC roundabout onwards if you're cycling into town you basically have to be invisible.

"If you're going to change it, do it properly or not at all."

Katherine Albert, 65, is a self-declared lifelong cyclist who lives in Wollaton, near where the roadworks are due to take place.

"I don't cycle up Derby Road because there's no cycle lane," she said. "So I think a cycle path sounds excellent.

"When potholes are very close to the edge of the road it makes it difficult to cycle there, so you have to cycle more into the middle of the road and that irritates the drivers."

The issue has also been flagged by Mr Stewart, who said he had noticed an increase in damage caused by potholes, adding: "In the bike shop we get a lot of cyclists coming in with damaged wheels and punctures where they've hit potholes.

"It's a real problem."

Miguel Gentil Fernandez, an avid cyclist from Wollaton, is an associate professor at the University of Nottingham, specialising in urban planning.

"All along Derby Road, it's very very dangerous for cyclists," he noted.

"So many of them feel that the only option is to go on the pavement. And that's obviously unsafe for pedestrians."

He said he would "love" to see a dedicated cycle lane on the A52.

"I come from Seville where there is 200km (124m) of cycle lanes.

"It completely changed the city. It changed people's moods. They're happier now they're not stuck in traffic."

National Highways has said the A52 roadworks which are expected to take a year to complete would begin on 19 May.

The agency hopes the scheme, which includes resurfacing the road, will make journeys "safer and smoother" for drivers.

The plans include building a combined cycleway and footway on the eastbound side of the A52 during the work.

It also involves rebuilding parts of the ageing drainage system as well as upgrading street lighting, bus stops and pedestrian crossings on the road section.

Programme development manager Ian Doust said: "By doing all of this work at the same time we can significantly reduce the number of road closures and amount of roadworks needed."

The work is set to be complete by spring 2026, although an exact date is yet to be confirmed.

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