Active Travel Funding
Bath Road is set to have a bus and cycle lane in each direction as part of the government’s initiative to get people to actively travel in the wake of the coronavirus crisis.
It will be just one temporary change to support a green restart to local travel with the Department for Transport providing funding and fast tracking measures to support cycling and walking.
The newly adapted bus and cycle lane, work on which will begin this week, will allow social distancing with confident cyclists able to use the direct route through the borough using the dedicated lane.
This will provide more room on shared pavements for pedestrians and less confident cyclists such as children cycling to school.
The lanes will run the length of the main arterial route from the Huntercombe Spur to Uxbridge Road.
A trial is also being considered for electric, or e-scooters, to be able to use the lane depending on changes of government policy about the legality of emerging electric modes of transport. Such modes offer clean, convenient travel that can help ease congestion levels and continue to allow for social distancing.
Supporting the work already undertaken by the council’s sustainable transport team Better by, the government has provided local authorities with funding to encourage people cycle and walk instead of getting back into private cars.
The council has been allocated approximately £180,000 in the first tranche of funding for temporary measures.
The measures are set to address rush hour congestion, improve resident’s health by encouraging exercise and combat air quality which is some areas on Bath Road as seen a fall of nitrogen oxides (NOx) by almost up to 60 percent.
The changes are temporary and the effectiveness will be regularly monitored during the scheme.
A quarter of households in the borough do not have access to a car and public transport will also be an important aspect as the borough gets back to normal.
Other plans set to be implemented in include social distancing measures around schools, road closures to combat rat runs, markings and barriers to assist pedestrians, free month of cycle hire as well as pop up bike surgeries and cycle training.
Cllr Rob Anderson, cabinet member for transport and environmental services, said: “This is a tremendous opportunity for Slough to make a step change in the quality of our environment.
“These measures will mean residents of Slough can continue to benefit from the improved Air quality and quieter roads we have seen during the coronavirus crisis that has benefited pedestrians, cyclists and car drivers.
“Although the changes are in the first instance temporary, they will be closely monitored to ensure we can incorporate the most appropriate measures on a more permanent basis.”
It will be just one temporary change to support a green restart to local travel with the Department for Transport providing funding and fast tracking measures to support cycling and walking.
The newly adapted bus and cycle lane, work on which will begin this week, will allow social distancing with confident cyclists able to use the direct route through the borough using the dedicated lane.
This will provide more room on shared pavements for pedestrians and less confident cyclists such as children cycling to school.
The lanes will run the length of the main arterial route from the Huntercombe Spur to Uxbridge Road.
A trial is also being considered for electric, or e-scooters, to be able to use the lane depending on changes of government policy about the legality of emerging electric modes of transport. Such modes offer clean, convenient travel that can help ease congestion levels and continue to allow for social distancing.
Supporting the work already undertaken by the council’s sustainable transport team Better by, the government has provided local authorities with funding to encourage people cycle and walk instead of getting back into private cars.
The council has been allocated approximately £180,000 in the first tranche of funding for temporary measures.
The measures are set to address rush hour congestion, improve resident’s health by encouraging exercise and combat air quality which is some areas on Bath Road as seen a fall of nitrogen oxides (NOx) by almost up to 60 percent.
The changes are temporary and the effectiveness will be regularly monitored during the scheme.
A quarter of households in the borough do not have access to a car and public transport will also be an important aspect as the borough gets back to normal.
Other plans set to be implemented in include social distancing measures around schools, road closures to combat rat runs, markings and barriers to assist pedestrians, free month of cycle hire as well as pop up bike surgeries and cycle training.
Cllr Rob Anderson, cabinet member for transport and environmental services, said: “This is a tremendous opportunity for Slough to make a step change in the quality of our environment.
“These measures will mean residents of Slough can continue to benefit from the improved Air quality and quieter roads we have seen during the coronavirus crisis that has benefited pedestrians, cyclists and car drivers.
“Although the changes are in the first instance temporary, they will be closely monitored to ensure we can incorporate the most appropriate measures on a more permanent basis.”
