Proposals are currently being developed to create a cycling route between Garforth and the city centre. This forms part of a wider commitment to improve conditions for walking and cycling as part of the Local Transport Plan.
The route would use a combination of existing cycle tracks and facilities and new facilities to provide a continuous route of high quality. It will be useful for both leisure and utility journeys and will connect a number of destinations.
The western section is designed as a safe and convenient route to the city centre for commuting cyclists. Among its destinations is the Aire Valley Leeds area and the route also provides links into Cross Green Industrial Estate from surrounding housing.
The improved surface on the Barrowby Lane bridleway would link north Garforth to the Thorpe Park Industrial Estate. Commuting cyclists would also use part of the route to access other cycle routes in the area, most notably the Wyke Beck Way Walking and Cycling Route which runs in a North – South direction through East Leeds.
It is proposed to incorporate the existing Safer Routes to School scheme at Whitkirk Primary School into the route.
The route also provides a way for residents of the inner suburbs of Richmond Hill and Osmondthorpe and surrounding area to access countryside routes and bridleways around Temple Newsam, Garforth and in the near future Roundhay Park and Rothwell Park (through other links now being proposed) encouraging healthy physical activity.
Sections of the scheme, notably between Colton Road and Colton Lane, and between Wesley Place and Pontefract Street will also have benefits for pedestrians as they will be able to share the new sections of cycleway.
A feasibility and outline design of the scheme has been completed and drawings in PDF format are available to download from this page.
Feedback regarding this route is welcome and should be sent to Mark Robinson at mark.x.robinson@leeds.gov.uk or Transport Policy, The Leonardo Building, 2 Rossington Street, Leeds, LS2 8HD.