New routes from Alwoodley and West Park will help commuters beat congested roads allowing them to ride directly into the city centre on specially designed cycle tracks.
The third route runs on Wyke Beck Way connecting Roundhay and Temple Newsam Parks to create a great new leisure and school commuter route, as well as making a link into the Aire Valley employment area.
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All media are invited to the launch event of the Wyke Beck Way on Wednesday 18 May from 1.45pm at Wetherby Road opposite the Montessori School. There will a bike ride setting off involving pupils from Grangefield Primary and David Young Community Academy. Please call the press office on 0113 247 4450 to arrange attendance.
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The Wyke Beck Way forms part of charity Sustrans’ Connect2 project, and has received funding from the Big Lottery Fund. Sustrans, who work to enable people to make more of their everyday journeys by foot, bike and public transport, secured £50million from the Big Lottery Fund for Connect2, which is creating new walking and cycling links in communities right across the UK.
The new additions form the latest phase of a forward thinking plan by the council to create an extensive network of 17 routes forming the Leeds Core Cycle Network, which are planned to open over the next five years.
A route connecting Middleton, Belle Isle and Hunslet with the city centre has been attracting cyclists since last September.
Future routes will link Leeds city railway station to Cookridge, Scholes, Rothwell, Chapel Allerton, Bramley, Farnley, Garforth, South Morley and Cross Gates to Thorner. There will also be improvements to the A64 and spurs to East Middleton, Adel and North Morley.
On completion the project will have created 71 miles of cycle network with a view to increasing cycling in the city by an estimated 80 per cent.
Leeds City Council’s Richard Lewis elected member for development and regeneration said:
“Nearly 70 per cent of all our journeys are less than five miles with some on congested roads at peak times being just as quick or quicker to travel by bicycle.
“All of the cycle routes are being developed with safety in mind. The off-road routes will improve safety by ensuring that more cyclists have an alternative to cycling on busy arterial roads.
“With all this in mind what more reason do people living along these routes need to stay fit and beat the rush hour by getting on their bikes and using these innovative cycle routes?
“And the benefits don’t stop there; more cyclists mean less people using cars and that means lower Co2 emissions.”
The council has worked in partnership with the Wyke Beck Valley Community Forum and Sustrans to create a route on the Wyke Beck Way . This forms part of the charity’s Connect2 project that is developing cycle routes across the UK with contributions from the Big Lottery Fund. All three of the new routes have also received Links to School and Local Transport Plan funding from the Department for Transport allocated to LCC.
David Hall, Sustrans regional director for Yorkshire & The Humber, said:
“We’re delighted to see the completion of the Wyke Beck Way Connect2 project, which will provide an attractive off-road route for pedestrians and cyclists in North Leeds, linking schools and a number of local communities.
“It’ll make it so much easier for people of all ages to get around without having to use their car. We’re delighted to have been able to work on this project with Leeds City Council, and we look forward to working closely with them in the future to make more improvements for pedestrians and cyclists.”
Paul Jones, Big Lottery Fund Head of Region for Yorkshire and The Humber, added:
“The new route is great news for all the local residents as it will play a vital role in making every day journeys healthier, safer and much more fun. People from across the UK voted for Sustrans to be awarded the £50 million Big Lottery grant, so it’s fantastic to see the real difference this funding makes locally.”
For more information about the routes, maps and frequently asked questions please visit www.leeds.gov.uk. The Sustrans website has a free on-line mapping service, helping people to discover how to make journeys on foot or by bike. Visit www.sustrans.org.uk
Notes to editors:
There are five events taking place to launch the opening of the routes as they are completed. Media will be invited along to each of them. Details are as follows:
Wyke Beck Way Launch Event Wednesday 18 May
A school ride will involve Grangefield Primary and David Young Community Academy. 10 pupils from each school will cycle north through Wyke Beck Woods to Roundhay Park.
Friends of Wyke Beck Way and Temple Newsam will hold a social ride at 6.30pm starting at Roundhay Mansion and continuing to Temple Newsam and back including a talk from countryside ranger Phil Thorpe.
Alwoodley Launch Event Wednesday 25 May
Route starts with a ride into the Cycle Point in the city centre at 8am from King Lane park and ride. Introduction to the Bike Bus and including a safety check at the Cycle Point.
West Park Launch Event Wednesday 8 June
Ride into the Cycle Point at 8am from Lawnswood School on the A660. There will be
free parking and tune up at the Cycle Point.
Middleton Launch Event Thursday 23 June
Schools event riding from Middleton to the Cycle Point at 8am. There will be
free parking and tune up at the Cycle Point.
General event – Friday 24 June
Bikers Breakfast at Leeds train station and the Cycle Point plus free parking and tune up. All cyclists are welcome.
For more information on Sustrans or to request interviews, please contact
Matt Hemsley, Sustrans Press Office
Tel 0117 915 0123 / Email: matthew.hemsley@sustrans.org.uk
• Sustrans is the charity that’s enabling people to travel by foot, bike or public transport for more of the journeys we make every day. Our work makes it possible for people to choose healthier, cleaner and cheaper journeys, with better places and spaces to move through and live in. It’s time we all began making smarter travel choices. Make your move and support Sustrans today. www.sustrans.org.uk
• Sustrans’ Connect2 is a UK-wide project that will transform local travel in communities, creating new bridges and crossings to overcome busy roads, rivers and railways, and linking these to networks of walking and cycling routes, making it easier for millions of people to walk and cycle for everyday journeys.
• Sustrans' Connect2 won £50 million from the Big Lottery Fund's Living Landmarks: The People's Millions as a result of a public vote televised on ITV1 in December 2007. This is the largest ever single lottery grant. Combined with match funding, the project is worth £142million.
• The Big Lottery Fund, the largest of the National Lottery good cause distributors, has been rolling out grants to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK since its inception in June 2004. It was established by Parliament on 1 December 2006.
Big Lottery Fund Press Office: 020 7211 1888
Out of hours: 07867 500 572
Full details of Big Lottery Fund projects and grant awards are available at: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk
Ends
For media enquiries, please contact;
Cat Milburn, Leeds City Council press office (0113) 247 4450
Email: Catherine.milburn@leeds.gov.uk
