Letter: Take advantage of less traffic

I agree with Jeff Gravestock (May 7) that more cycle lanes and under cover bike parking are needed in Harrogate.

He says the challenging topography might discourage cycling, however with e-bikes becoming more popular this needn’t be the case.

Oslo is similarly undulating, but grants of up to £1,100 are being offered towards the cost of an electric cargo bike and the city is making more streets pedestrian-only and converting street parking space into bike lanes to reduce pollution and congestion and create a better quality of life for residents.

One in 19 deaths of people living in urban areas is caused by pollution according to a new study by the Centre for Cities. Encouraging other forms of transport such as walking and cycling will help people live longer and help the NHS by reducing obesity related illnesses.

Birmingham announced an aspiration to stop private vehicles driving through its centre, Sheffield and Leeds experimented with car-free days and Bristol is to ban diesel vehicles next year.

The opening of a dedicated cycling lane on Cambridge’s arterial Hills Road in 2017 resulted in cyclists increasing by more than a third.

It’s argued that reducing vehicular access is detrimental to city centre trade. Oslo reports footfall has increased by up to 14 per cent in streets where work has already been done and the numbers are expected to rise further as the cultural shift gathers pace. Queen Square in Bristol, Briggate in Leeds, and Cornmarket Street in Oxford are examples of other areas thriving after being made car free.

Now’s the time to take advantage of the reduced traffic and adopt some low cost measures recommended by Cycling UK such as creating temporary and wider cycle lanes using cones and planters, widening footpaths and stopping rat runs by closing residential streets.

These measures will make the roads safer for key workers on their way to work, families taking exercise and individuals running vital errands, and make it easier for everyone to practise social distancing which is here to stay for some time.

The government is encouraging people to cycle to work to avoid overcrowding on public transport.

Will our council act to establish safe cycling routes whilst it has this unprecedented opportunity, or will it allow the roads to become even more congested as people have no safe alternative when they return to work?