Walking and cycling improvements
We are improving our cycling and walking routes across the county to make them more usable and safe for more people.
The improvements include new or improved cycle routes, space for pedestrians, high quality surfaces, better junctions and crossings, and direct and connected routes to help pedestrians and cyclists feel safer while going about their day-to-day activities. Overall, we hope that these changes will:
- encourage short everyday journeys on foot or bike, whether it's the school run, a trip to the shops, leisure centre, or library
- enable people to maintain healthy lifestyles both physically and mentally
- save people money on travel
- keep people safe while they travel and exercise
- encourage more children to walk and cycle to school
- help protect our planet by reducing carbon emissions
Local cycling and walking infrastructure plans (LCWIPs)
We use LCWIPs to help us identify improvements that can be made to encourage everyday journeys to be carried out on foot or by cycle. We want to inspire people to change the way they travel by making short journeys in the local area safer, more convenient and more enjoyable to go on foot and by cycle than by private car.
The Government recommends that local councils prepare LCWIPs in their Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy 2017 and are prioritising funding for those councils which have developed such plans. We now have 11 plans adopted for Bishop Auckland, Chester-le-Street, Consett, Crook, Durham City, Newton Aycliffe, Peterlee, Seaham, Spennymoor, Shildon and Stanley.
The LCWIPs for these towns are available on request.
Current works
We are currently planning and preparing schemes in Bishop Auckland, Consett, Newton Aycliffe, Durham City, Newton Hall, Pity Me and Brandon (railway path) and in the LCWIP areas mentioned above.
Completed works
See table below for a list of recently completed active travel schemes.
| Where | Improvements |
|---|---|
Newton Hall to Rivergreen, Durham City Shared pedestrian/cycle | The route provides more accessible facilities and a wider, high quality sealed surface for pedestrians, runners, cyclists, wheelchair users and pushchair users. |
National Cycle Network 1 - Dawdon to Haswell Multi-user route | The route provides more accessible facilities and a wider, high quality sealed surface for pedestrians, runners, cyclists, equestrians, wheelchair users and pushchair users. |
National Cycle Network 1 - Haswell to Wynyard Multi-user route | The route provides more accessible facilities and a wider surface for pedestrians, runners, cyclists, equestrians, wheelchair users and pushchair users. |
Waskerley Way, Consett Multi-user route | The route provides more accessible facilities and a wider surface for pedestrians, runners, cyclists, equestrians, wheelchair users and pushchair users. |
Sedgefield to Hardwick Park Pedestrian link | The route provides more accessible facilities and a wider surfaced path for pedestrians, wheelchair users and pushchair users to Hardwick Park from Station Road via the underpass. |
Pity Me Carrs - Old Tub Line Pedestrian/cycle link | The route provides more accessible facilities and a wider surfaced path for pedestrians, wheelchair users, pushchair users and cyclists between Front Street and Hutton Way. Note: Cyclists are by permission only and must share with care. |
Further information about the improvements
Pedestrian and disabled access in the improvement areas will not be affected.
Cycle parking
Secure cycle parking is a crucial to encouraging active travel. We continue to run a successful ParkThatBike scheme for communities and businesses which includes secure parking hangars.
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