Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan for York

Progress on a new plan, which will identify York’s key walking and cycling networks and then prioritise improvements to them both will be taken to a meeting next week to provide an update.

York’s Local Cycling & Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) sits alongside the Local Transport Strategy, which is currently out to consultation and the Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP). The final plan will be used as evidence in bids for future investment. 

To help identify and prioritise strategic network improvements for cyclists and pedestrians the Department for Transport (DfT) asked each highway authority in England to produce an LCWIP.

In York, all three of the above documents will feed into the emerging Local Transport Plan (LTP4) which will be produced once the DfT’s guidance is published.

Cllr Andy D’Agorne, executive Member for Transport, said:

“Improvements to walking and cycling networks will encourage people to consider active travel as an alternative to driving for many short journeys.  This in turn will help to reduce congestion across the city and help to improve air quality.”

The consultants developing the LCWIP for the council have identified a list of some of the top priority cycle links and core walking zones for further high-level design work and to enable costings to be calculated which can then be used in funding bids.   

The list includes links north and south of the A1237 Outer Ring Road between Strensall and Huntington, a link between the large development sites at York Central and British Sugar, areas around the University of York and routes linking to the city centre and a route between the station and hospital.  Walking zones will include enhancements to the Station Gateway and Castle Gateway proposals, better access to York Hospital and the two Universities.

Two public consultation stages were planned as part of the LCWIP process.  The first stage, on the proposed priority list for sections of cycle route and walking zones, was undertaken in mid-February 2023.

This was undertaken with a range of stakeholders including elected members, parish councils and groups representing walking, cycling and residents with various disabilities. 

The second stage will be on the high-level concept proposals for each of the ten priority cycle links and the four key walking zones, will be with a wider range of stakeholders and will now take place after the local elections alongside the Local Transport Strategy consultation.

An update report on progress towards York’s LCWIP will be taken to the executive member for Transport’s decision session on 14 March.

The meeting will take place on 14 March at 10am. Read more about the proposals here and watch the meeting live, or back again here.