West Bradford - Cycle Superhighway Extension

Visualisation showing how the proposed two-way segregated cycle lanes along Thornton Road could look

The Benefits

Bradford is the UK’s youngest city, and we are striving to become the UK’s leading ‘clean growth’ district. Making Bradford more sustainable is crucial to our future success, however, we currently lack the necessary infrastructure to enable people to make sustainable travel choices.

Thornton Road is one of the city’s major routes, with over 23,000 vehicles driving along it every day. It provides a connection from the city centre to residential, education, and employment areas in west Bradford, but is transport poor in terms of walking and cycling. Approximately 30% of the population living within 1km of Thornton Road are under the age of 20 – and 70% are under the age of 50. So, it is thought that more people could walk and cycle more if it is easier and safer to do so.

With no dedicated segregated cycle route in place at present, many people who access the city centre rely on using a car. By linking the city centre with key areas in west Bradford, including the University of Bradford, Bradford College and Bradford Royal Infirmary, the scheme will increase the number of realistic options for people to use to get about Bradford without a car.

The Aims

The aims of the West Bradford - Cycle Superhighway Extension are to:

• provide greater transport choices and make it easier and safer for residents living in the west of Bradford to make short, local journeys, as well as journeys into the city centre via cycling
• reduce the number of car trips in the area by providing a safer, attractive alternative to the private car, helping to reduce our carbon emissions, congestion and journey times for public transport
• help create a transport network fit for the 21^st century, addressing key challenges around capacity, connectivity, sustainability and air quality
• support residents living in the west of Bradford to live healthier lives by providing people with the opportunity to be more active, whilst helping to reduce air and noise pollution in the area.
  
  

The Proposals

The scheme would deliver a direct, largely segregated cycle route to provide cyclists with a safe, secure space to travel easily and conveniently between the city centre and areas to the west of the city. The proposed improvements include:

• a largely segregated cycle route running along the length of Thornton Road between the city centre and Thornton village, passing the University of Bradford and Bradford College as well as a number of areas along the way, including Girlington, Crossley Hall and Lower Grange
• a northern spur off the route connecting with the Bradford Royal Infirmary, allowing cyclists to continue more safely onto the Infirmary
• a southern spur off the route following the Great Northern Railway Trail to Queensbury via Station Road and passing the entrance to Queensbury Tunnel
• cyclist priority at major junctions along Thornton Road to enable quick and safe passage between the city centre and Thornton

The new cycle route along Thornton Road will form an extension of the existing Bradford Leeds Cycle Superhighway, more information on which can be found here. Complementary improvements are also planned at the junction of Thornton Road and Cemetery Road Junction through the West Bradford Junctions Improvement Scheme. More information on the plans for this junction as well as future consultation will be available in autumn.