Hi there,

Thank you for taking the time to get in touch with us and for your question.

In answering your question, it is important to note that this cycle way is part of a much wider plan to build a comprehensive cycle network of safe, easy to navigate and convenient cycle routes across the district. As has been shown elsewhere, to significantly increase cycling levels, and decrease vehicle traffic levels, good quality cycle routes and cycle parking that form a comprehensive network of cycle routes have to be available to enable people to not just make one particular journey, but to use cycling to get about for multiple journeys. Bradford, as with most UK cities, currently lacks sufficient high-quality cycle routes to achieve a substantial shift to cycling and to reduce vehicle traffic. This principle of creating a comprehensive network of routes equally applies to cars. If there far fewer roads available, fewer people would drive. However, over many years a comprehensive road network has been developed that enables people to travel where they need to and car trips have increased accordingly.

Building a comprehensive cycle network takes time. Equally, it takes time for people who would consider cycling to purchase a cycle and get into the habit of using it. However, using government funding ringfenced for cycle routes, we are now developing new cycle routes, such as this one, at a much quicker pace to deliver the network required.

Despite appreciating the long-term approach required, cycle routes are being monitored to assess the impact they have on traffic flows and the level of car traffic in the district, albeit that we will not see the full benefits of many cycleways until a full active travel network for Bradford is created.

When determining where to build new cycle routes, we use a tool developed by the government’s Department for Transport called the Propensity to Cycle Tool which allows us to identify where new high-quality cycle routes are likely to lead to increased cycling rates as part of a wider cycle route network. This highlights the west of Bradford corridor as a key location for the city.

Developing new cycling infrastructure is a key requirement placed on local authorities by the Department for Transport. Transport is responsible for more CO₂ emissions than any other area and so, if we want to grow our economy and create jobs, we have to find more sustainable ways for people to travel. That means enabling people who would cycle if the right facilities existed, to do so, to enable Bradford District to achieve its target of 2038 to reach net-zero, and national government to do so for the country by 2050.

We hope this is useful, but please let us know if you have any further questions or fill out the survey on this website.

Kind regards,

The Project Team