News / Transport

Portway pavement could be widened for safer walking and cycling

By Alex Seabrook  Tuesday Jul 16, 2024

The pavement of the Portway could be widened in some sections to make it safer for people to walk and cycle.

The changes also include new bus lanes and lowering the speed limit of the traffic-heavy road which runs through the Avon Gorge, underneath the Clifton Suspension Bridge and into Hotwells.

But cycling campaigners have raised concerns as people walking and cycling will have to share space on the pavement.

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The proposals have been criticised as shared paths can be frustrating for both pedestrians and cyclists.

National guidance LTN 1/20 says cyclists should be segregated from pedestrians, and Bristol City Council’s transport policy committee has been urged to rethink the plans.

Cycling along the Portway is never usually a pleasant experience – photo: Martin Booth

Nicholas Davies from Bristol Cycling Campaign said: “You’ve got four-and-a-half metre bus lanes, you’ve got some very wide traffic lanes, and you could shrink those.

“On shared paths, pedestrians are treated like pegs on a nine-pin bowling alley among some cyclists.

“Those could be widened and the paths segregated, without affecting the bus lane there.”

Some of the proposed changes on the Portway will see speed limits reduced – map: Arcadis

Transport bosses defended their plans as they say only few people use the route to walk or cycle at the moment, so there is not enough demand for a segregated bike lane.

But this is possibly because the route is currently perceived as dangerous and unpleasant by many.

The proposed plans also include reducing the speed limit in some parts from 50mph to 40mph, with new bus lanes due to cut journey times.

Green councillor Ed Plowden, chair of the committee, said: “Three-metre shared paths, where the pedestrian flows are 300 an hour or less is acceptable in LTN 1/20.

“I think the count is less than that for a whole day for pedestrians along the Portway.

“Part of my current role in the job I’m just about to leave is looking at exceptions to LTN 1/20 and either signing them off or not.

“So I’m really happy to personally have a look at this and see where we can take it from there.”

Speed limits on the Portway are being reduced as part of the plans – photo: Martin Booth

Adam Crowther, head of city transport, said that a shared path “is an acceptable provision”.

He said: “The scheme as a whole is looking at all the users of the Portway, and that includes the vehicle traffic which includes a significant number of HGVs.

“That has to be considered in terms of lane width and the space that’s available.

“There are a large number of bus users using the corridor, and there are a low number of pedestrians and cyclists using the corridor.

“That’s not to say we don’t want to accommodate them, but we have to be realistic about what we can provide along the length of the corridor.”

Main photo: Martin Booth

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