Improved cycle access to Bury

Two schemes are about to be unveiled which will improve life for those wanting to commute around Bury without using the car.

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) and Bury Council are investing around £450,000 in the two schemes which were granted as part of central government’s Local Sustainable Transport Fund.

The fund was launched by the Department for Transport in 2010 and makes more than half a billion pounds available nationwide to support sustainable transport measures.

The schemes will help develop a network of routes for use by people who are put off walking and cycling by the conditions on some of our busier roads.

The first of these improvements is on a 2.3km stretch of National Cycle Route 6 immediately north of where it crosses the M60, known locally as the Outwood Trail. This route links Bury town centre with central Manchester, via Radcliffe, Prestwich and the Agecroft/Clifton employment areas. When the Outwood Trail section was built 15 years ago, the surface was made using crushed stone which has now deteriorated badly, and is now mostly mud.

Feedback from cyclists shows that the route is popular for commuting, which is why the path will have improved drainage and be reconstructed with a sealed surface.

The second scheme will focus on four pedestrian and cycle routes surrounding Bury’s bustling town centre and transport interchange. Additional signage and the conversion of a pelican crossing to a toucan crossing should enable cyclists and pedestrians to cross the A56 at Baron St/Knowsley St more safely.

Toucan crossings are typically situated next to a cycle path. They feature a green cycle symbol alongside the ‘green man’ and the crossing time is determined each time by detectors. Pelican crossings, by contrast, have red/amber/green signals facing drivers, and red man/green man signals facing pedestrians waiting to cross the road.

On top of these improvements, a new walking and cycling route has been built through Chamberhall Business Park in Bury where the new police headquarters and fire station are located. There are now two routes through the business park: the existing route on the eastern side, next to the fire station, which goes to the town centre via Castlecroft Road; and a new 580-metre route along the riverside to the west which connects to the existing north and south-bound route. A short part of the riverside route was constructed to base course stage as part of an adjacent private development.

Councillor Gill Campbell, cabinet member for neighbourhoods and regeneration, said: “These improvements will be welcomed by pedestrians and cyclists, and we hope that they will encourage many more of our residents to leave the car at home. It’s good for our environment, and good for our health, and helps make Bury a greener place for all.” 

Councillor Andrew Fender, Chair of the Transport for Greater Manchester Committee, said: “Both of these schemes will make it easier for people in Bury to use cycling as a long-term way of commuting.

“They are just two of many cycle infrastructure improvements currently ongoing in Greater Manchester as part of the Local Sustainable Transport Fund.

“It is the vision of TfGM to promote cycling as a travel choice and we have a number of initiatives to do this including free cycle training.” 

For more information on how TfGM is promoting cycling in Greater Manchester visit http://cycling.tfgm.com/

ENDS

Press release issued: 21 March 2013.

Picture attached: The newly improved cycle link at the Outwood Trail.