Lord Whitty’s announcement today will cause a transport of delight in the south-west of Coventry. The cycle route linking the main campus of the University of Warwick to the City Centre and Earlsdon will be in place by April 2000. Signs and special road markings will warn pedestrians of areas where cyclists might be expected.

The announcement follows a public inquiry held in June this summer. The City Council will now create a cycle track that will enable people to cycle, on the road where it is safe and on shared cycle/foot-ways where these are safer. A number of objections were received to the Council’s proposals and an independent Inspector was appointed to consider both sides of the argument.

The Inspector has allowed the Council to create a complete cycle path that will take people from the city centre, down Grosvenor Road, over what is now the footbridge by Central Six, across Spencer Park and south-west out of the city. People will be able to cycle along the recently constructed cycle path on the Kenilworth Road and down to the main University campus.

"This is very good news for cyclists and pedestrians" said Councillor John McNicholas, Chair of the Council’s Environment and Transportation Policy Team.

"The Inspector’s decision will be enable us to separate cyclists from pedestrians and put signs up so everyone is aware that bikes might be around. Encouraging people to get about by bike is all part of our integrated transport strategy, it’s good for the cyclists, its good for the environment and it’s good for the City."

Tactile markers on the paths will warn the visually impaired that they are entering a stretch where cyclists may be found. These marks also indicate which side is the footpath and which the cycle path.

Along the route, the cyclists will use an 85 metre (about 100 yard) link between Cannon Hill Road and Bransford Avenue that is currently reserved for pedestrians. This second stretch was also the subject of some objections but the Inspector felt that safety concerns were not sufficient to block the plan.

For the moment, a branch from this cycle route that would link up the University’s Gibbet Hill campus will not go ahead while the Council and University sort out safety concerns.

Money has already been set aside to create the cycle route and the Council expects it to be in place by the end of March next year.