Published on Monday 11 May 2020
With the COVID-19 pandemic continuing to affect everyday lives, BCP Council is introducing measures to increase more space to support pedestrians and cyclists in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole areas.
The UK lockdown has seen significant changes in travel patterns, including an increase in people walking and cycling and far less cars on the road.
With social distancing measures key to help people move around safely, a number of adjustments to walking and cycling spaces have already been made in some places, with more to be put in place in key locations across the three towns where there is high pedestrian/cycling activity.
Work has already been carried out to alter some routes to make them safer for people walking and cycling, including:
- Closure to motor vehicles at Boscombe Undercliff.
- Closure to motor vehicles at Broadway Road (approach to Hengistbury Head).
Measures will be introduced to support the 2-metre social distancing requirement on pavements at busy locations and outside busy shops with queues, including:
- Ashley Road: localised footway widening by reallocating road space adjacent to Richmond Road.
- Southbourne Grove: localised widening by suspension of parking outside numbers 81 – 91 Southbourne Grove.
- Winton: localised widening along Wimborne Road, between Leslie Road and Cardigan Road by reallocating road space.
- Tuckton Bridge: new signage to indicate safe one-way routes for pedestrian access.
Councillor Andy Hadley, BCP Council Cabinet Member for Transport and Infrastructure, said: "The impact of the coronavirus outbreak has further highlighted the need to provide more safe spaces across the three towns for walking and cycling and I am pleased we are able to support our residents in making these adjustments enabling them to continue travelling sustainably whilst maintaining social distancing.
"We will continue to monitor travel patterns as lockdown restrictions are eased to review where further action is needed. This will look at safety issues, but also how to encourage and enable people to walk and cycle, so that these are seen as viable options for many journeys in the future.
"Longer term, we want to implement measures that support our vision for a sustainable and inclusive transport network that supports the climate emergency action plan and promotes the health and wellbeing of all our residents."