City of Wolverhampton smashes new cycle routes target

Released: Wednesday, March 22, 2017

City of Wolverhampton Council is putting in the extra miles when it comes to delivering cycle routes as part of its active travel network.

Around 24 kilometres of new cycle routes have been developed across the city over the last three years.

This is double the city’s Corporate Plan target and shows substantial progress in delivering the Black Country Core Strategy ambitions for cycling.

The projects – totalling more than £3 million - have been fully funded by grants from central government via the Local Sustainable Transport Fund and from the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership via Managing Short Trips funding.

Cabinet Member for City Environment, Councillor Steve Evans, said: "Our Active Travel Strategy is built around a vision for Wolverhampton to become a city where active travel modes become the preferred choice, supported by a connected network of high quality and inviting cycle routes and walkways.

"Cycling provides obvious health and environmental benefits and these outstanding figures show how committed we are as a council to improving the city’s network.

"Last year we put in place a 20-year Active Travel Strategy and, as part of this, a pipeline of cycle route schemes has been established.”

Major schemes in the last three years include the Wolverhampton Science Park to i54 route on the Stafford Road, stretches on the Ring Road, city centre to Bilston routes, and improvements to canal towpaths.

Plans include the development of new routes along Birmingham Road and Willenhall Road, as well as the Wyrley & Essington Canal to New Cross and Bentley Bridge, and along the Smestow Valley.

City of Wolverhampton Council has also recently become the first organisation in the city to be awarded Top Cycling Location Platinum status by Transport for the West Midlands.

The Civic Centre has been handed the honour through the Local Sustainable Transport Fund project – Smart Network Smarter Choices – for the work it does to promote cycling and walking among its employees.

Image caption: Councillor Steve Evans, Cabinet Member for City Environment, and Councillor Paul Sweet, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Well Being, get on their bikes.

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• Issued by the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Corporate Communications Team.
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