Temporary cycle lanes installed during the Covid-19 pandemic across Liverpool could become permanent fixtures.
In Spring 2020, lanes were set up on three routes including Vauxhall Road, West Derby Road, and Sefton Park to the City Centre. They are now in a poor state of repair and have been deemed unfit for purpose.
Liverpool Council is now preparing a public consultation on a permanent adoption of the routes which, while well used, have become an issue in terms of maintenance. A report to go before the local authority’s cabinet next week said initially the pop-up schemes were never intended to be permanent highway measures, but rather a “relatively low cost and rapid method of implementing segregated cycle schemes over long lengths to encourage cycling as a result of the pandemic.”
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However, the council’s highways department has recommended that permanent schemes along the length of the three routes are achieved as soon as possible before they degrade to such an extent that they need to be removed altogether. The report said that soon after the opening of the lanes two years ago, some elements of the schemes began to rapidly become damaged with vehicle strikes knocking over and damaging the bolt-down bollards.
It said: “Maintenance of these schemes therefore became a real issue for the council. The routes were also found to be very difficult to keep clear of debris due to a lack of cleaning equipment that could fit within the pop-up cycle lanes.
“Consequently, sections of the cycle lanes became obstructed with loose bollards, leaves and other debris – and hence, difficult to navigate by cyclists and causing trip hazards for pedestrians.” The local authority also incurred the ire of the UK Government when part of the pop-up route for West Derby Road towards the City Centre was removed due to a major water main burst on an adjacent route.
As a result, a subsequent grant was reduced by 25% and there was a view that the council did not support active travel. A proposed public consultation on the permanent adoption could go live as early as next month with a decision made by March next year.
The schemes have proven to be popular with users however, with figures showing during May this year, more than 20,000 journeys were made by cyclists along West Derby Road and Vauxhall Road. It is thought that bringing the routes up to suitable condition and making them permanent installations could cost around £7m.
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