We aim to give everyone more ways to travel. As part of our Corporate Strategy, we are making walking, wheeling and cycling – also known as active travel – safer, easier and more accessible. This will help cut congestion and improve air quality.
The four routes will add more than 6.2km of new cycling routes. They will also include new and improved crossings and footways for walking and wheeling. This will:
- increase Bath’s cycling network by more than 10%
- provide walking and wheeling improvements
- increase connectivity across Bath.
Bath Walking, Wheeling and Cycling Links routes
The scheme will link into:
- the Bath city centre active travel scheme
- the A4 Bath to Bristol project
- our Liveable Neighbourhoods programme in several locations
- the National Cycle Network (NCN).
Two of the routes were identified in the West of England Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) and the Active Travel Masterplan.
You can expand the sections below to find out more about what the scheme means for you.
Bath Walking, Wheeling and Cycling Links will improve the way people cycle in, through and out of the city centre from key spots in Bath. It will also make cycling safer, more accessible and convenient.
The routes include proposals for new cycle lanes designed to help meet these aims. They include:
- segregated cycle lanes
- cycle lanes on quieter routes
- improvements to existing cycle lanes
- new crossings.
The project will provide direct routes from key spots in and around the city centre to make walking and wheeling easier and safer. This includes creating distance from moving traffic, traffic calming and improving crossing points.
Our proposals aim to rebalance how we allocate road space. It will make active travel safer and easier.
Reducing on-street car parking
We are working to mitigate the loss of parking where possible. We will also formalise parking arrangements at some points along the route. We will share more information soon.
Residents and businesses
Our proposals will encourage more people to use active travel as part of a trip involving public transport. Walking, cycling and wheeling use limited road space more efficiently.
If more people can choose active travel or public transport, it will improve accessibility and air quality in the area. An increase in walking and cycling may improve footfall for local businesses and create a safer and more welcoming environment.
Why walking and cycling is important
We need to make walking, wheeling and cycling the natural choice for a lot more of our journeys. Currently, over one-third of car trips across Bath and North East Somerset are less than 5km.
Walking, wheeling and cycling are affordable and accessible ways to travel. Their importance has become more apparent over recent years.
The benefits are extensive, from improving air quality to ensuring healthier places and people. By enabling more ways to travel, we can optimise road space for all.
Active Travel Masterplan
The Bath Walking, Wheeling and Cycling Links is part of our Active Travel Masterplan. This is a comprehensive plan that sets out the existing and future network of active travel infrastructure.
It aims to enable walking, cycling and other forms of active travel, ensuring safer, healthier, and more accessible transport for everyone. It will support all types of journey, including commuting, education, leisure and tourism.