A NEW and upgraded walking and cycling route has reopened increasing linked between Warwick University and Coventry Station.
The 500 metre length of National Cycle Network Route 52 will make it easier for people to walk, wheel and cycle between locations.
Route 52 stretches north from Warwick through Coventry, Nuneaton and Coalville, linking with National Cycle Network Route 6, just west of Loughborough.
The completed route is part of an longer-term plan to make Coventry station more accessible via active travel, increasing access for residents and students across South Coventry, with the next stage due to start in Autumn 2024.
Sustrans provided £1.5million in a sub grant to Coventry City Council to deliver the work.
This project with the council is part of the charities national programme funded by the Department for Transport, to improve the National Cycle Network and create accessible Paths for Everyone.
The charity who funded the event held a community celebration event to open the route.
The event included a tree identification walk led by Sustrans staff as well as the public taking part in making cycle-powered art using an ingenious contraption combining paper plates, paint and and a specially adapted bike, and brought along cycles to be serviced at a Dr Bike cycle maintenance stall.
Coun Jim O’Boyle, cabinet member for jobs, regeneration and climate change, said: “Building the cycleway infrastructure on Lynchgate Road, not only improves access to the University of Warwick campus and Cannon Park shopping centre, but the new toucan crossings will more safely connect pedestrians and cyclists to the existing cycle track along Charter Avenue, which links Kenilworth to Coventry.
“We are beginning to build us a really good network of top quality segregated cycle routes – and this is important because the biggest barrier to cycling is perceived safety.
“This work also complements our ambition to be a greener city and sits well with our pioneering Coventry Very Light Rail, the fact Coventry will be the UK’s first all-electric bus city and our ambition for on-street charge points.”
Clare Maltby, Midlands and East director at Sustrans, said: “We are thrilled to showcase the new and improved Warwick University to Charter Avenue section of the National Cycle Network.
“It’s an example of what we hope to achieve, as we progress our Paths for Everyone vision, connecting communities.
“We hope that this upgraded route can now become a vibrant, traffic-free corridor that will connect communities with business, study and job opportunities.”
