Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

Popular cycling and walking route to be reopened to cars despite concerns of “unnecessary danger”

The Bristol route has been closed for three years, and campaigners and councillors are warning that the move would make it dangerous

A popular walking and cycling route in Bristol is set to be reopened to motor traffic three years after it was temporarily closed, despite warnings from campaigners and local councillors that it would create “unnecessary danger to pedestrians and cyclists”.

Bristol City Council is planning to reopen Avon Crescent after repair works are finished on a nearby walkway later this year, turning it into a one way road for cars driving eastbound from Merchants Road down to Cumberland Road, Bristol Live reports.

In the last three years, Avon Crescen has been shut to through traffic. Temporary roadblocks were introduced which effectively turned it into a cul-de-sac, blocking any cars, buses or lorries from driving through, but maintaining access for residents and deliveries.

The street has since become increasingly popular with people walking and cycling around the Harbourside, due to the lack of traffic. But campaigners are warning that removing the roadblocks will increase the traffic and deem the road with narrow pavements completely unsuitable for pedestrians or cyclists.

> Cyclists call on council to reconsider “unsafe” cycle route diversion

Writing to the council, the Bristol Cycling Campaign said: “Avon Crescent is a key walking and cycling route enabling people to walk from one side of the harbour to the other. For many people, walking or cycling around the Harbourside is a frequent journey. Many, many cycling and walking journeys use Avon Crescent every day.

“The footway on the east side of Avon Crescent is very narrow and totally unsuitable and inadequate for the amount of pedestrian traffic now using the road, particularly on a weekend. There is no footway on the west side of Avon Crescent. Fully re-opening Avon Crescent will create an unnecessary danger to pedestrians and cyclists. Motor vehicles can currently gain access to this road and they do not need through access.”

Green Councillor Patrick McAllister, representing Hotwells and Harbourside, added: “I share concerns of residents who feel their safety and health will be imperilled by reopening Avon Crescent to traffic. The route is now more fully integrated as a walking and cycling route, and this newfound use of the road would be in all likelihood wiped out if it reopened to traffic.”

> "There's a car park 20 metres away": Cyclists slam cycle lane parking putting riders in danger

However, council bosses are claiming that proposed bus gate restrictions further down Cumberland Road will lead to a steep drop in traffic.

A Bristol City Council officer said: “The proposed bus gate on Cumberland Road will significantly reduce the level of traffic using Avon Crescent when compared to before the Chocolate Path repair closure, meeting many of the objectives for changes to the road.

“The closure of Avon Crescent currently in place for the Chocolate Path repair work will cease in early 2023 and it is proposed that the bus gate come into effect at the same time.”

Previously in 2014, the council had proposed plans to turn Avon Crescent into a “shared space” with no pavements, giving “pedestrians, cyclists and cars equal right” by “encouraging to vehicles to slow down”.

However, those plans have been officially scrapped now after lack of funding and safety concerns raised by residents.

Adwitiya joined road.cc in 2023 as a news writer after graduating with a masters in journalism from Cardiff University. His dissertation focused on active travel, which soon threw him into the deep end of covering everything related to the two-wheeled tool, and now cycling is as big a part of his life as guitars and football. He has previously covered local and national politics for Voice Wales, and also likes to writes about science, tech and the environment, if he can find the time. Living right next to the Taff trail in the Welsh capital, you can find him trying to tackle the brutal climbs in the valleys.

Add new comment

10 comments

Avatar
Doctor Darabuka | 1 year ago
0 likes

The houses on the right of the photo were evacuated last night; they can be seen 10 seconds into this 30 second video clip of the Underfall Yard fire.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QoeKLRzRDQ

Avatar
David9694 | 1 year ago
4 likes

afternoon out poking around in Sherborne yesterday.
 

As the abbey clock struck 4, someone must have dropped the posts at the top of the High Street and within a couple of minutes it was as though this happened before your eyes.

Avatar
brooksby | 1 year ago
0 likes

Bristol City Council has been criticised recently for seemingly rushing to undo many of their 'car unfriendly' projects.  They're intending to reopen University Road next to Browns on the Triangle:

https://www.bristol247.com/news-and-features/news/mayors-office-want-roa...

Quote:

A mayor’s office spokesperson explained the situation.

They said: “A short stretch of University Road was closed during the pandemic. As people movement returned to former levels, the road’s operation was reviewed and the administration decided to reopen the rest of the road.

“The small partial closure meant diverting drivers along a longer route, via two other roads to join the northern part of University Road, rather than taking the most direct route.

“University Road is a key route linking west and central Bristol to Gloucester Road and north Bristol, that has become more important to the resilience of the network with the administration’s pedestrianisation of Cotham Hill, changes to the traffic network at St Michael’s Hill, and the introduction of the Clean Air Zone.”

Whether University Road is such a key route has also been questioned... 

Avatar
hawkinspeter replied to brooksby | 1 year ago
2 likes

brooksby wrote:

Whether University Road is such a key route has also been questioned... 

I'm sure it's nothing to do with wealthy parents wanting to drop their kids off at Bristol Grammar School.

Meanwhile, here in East Bristol, we're going to be getting LTNs for everyone!

https://www.bristol247.com/news-and-features/news/road-closure-plans-for-liveable-neighbourhood-trial-revealed/

Avatar
slc replied to hawkinspeter | 1 year ago
1 like

The immaculate jet black SUVs get into University Road just fine. It's like a SWAT raid at the right time each morning. On the other hand, you would only use it to connect any two parts of Bristol if you had a very poor sense of direction.

Looking forward to peace on Beaufort Road.

Avatar
hawkinspeter replied to slc | 1 year ago
0 likes
slc wrote:

The immaculate jet black SUVs get into University Road just fine. It's like a SWAT raid at the right time each morning. On the other hand, you would only use it to connect any two parts of Bristol if you had a very poor sense of direction.

Looking forward to peace on Beaufort Road.

Beaufort Rd is in dire need of a one way system

Avatar
slc replied to hawkinspeter | 1 year ago
1 like

The trial plan looks better than a one way to me: three modal filters that should frustrate even the keenest rat runner in either direction.

Avatar
hawkinspeter replied to slc | 1 year ago
0 likes

slc wrote:

The trial plan looks better than a one way to me: three modal filters that should frustrate even the keenest rat runner in either direction.

I hadn't looked at it in much detail and assumed it was just going to be made one way, but it does look better with no through traffic at all.

https://eastbristolliveableneighbourhoods.commonplace.is/en-GB/map/trial-map

Avatar
slc replied to hawkinspeter | 1 year ago
2 likes

Let's hope it gets past the angry motorists that derailed the last major attempt to improve the area.

Avatar
chrisonabike replied to brooksby | 1 year ago
6 likes

brooksby wrote:

Quote:

A mayor’s office spokesperson explained the situation.

...

“The small partial closure meant diverting drivers along a longer route, via two other roads to join the northern part of University Road, rather than taking the most direct route.

Yes, that's right, you divert the drivers along longer routes, so that those walking and cycling can have more direct routes!

Wait - they're saying this is a bad thing?!

Latest Comments