Pop-up cycle lanes introduced during lockdown 'not being used enough'

Report by ITV News Meridian's Charlotte Wilkins

There is concern that pop-up cycle lanes, introduced across the South East during lockdown to encourage social distancing and improve safety, are 'not being used enough'.

As lockdown eases and many of us return to driving to work, traffic on our roads is becoming a familiar site leading some to question whether they are worth the congestion they can cause.

Supporters say they are a chance to make our towns and cities greener and safer.

As part of their Green Transport Recovery Plan, Southampton City Council introduced a number of temporary cycle lanes including along The Avenue, which is one of the city's main roads.

Critics say the cycle lane there is causing more congestion during peak times, when few cyclists actually use the lane.

Not everyone is happy about they way they have been implemented. 

Royston Smith, Conservative MP for Southampton and Itchen, says: "Changing the road layout where you cut the capacity in and out of the city by 50% and expecting people then to get out of their cars and just go onto bicycles is never going to work."

The charity Sustrans has been working with councils throughout the pandemic to make it easier for people to walk and cycle around.

In Brighton and Hove, the city council says that coronavirus has significantly changed the way that people choose travel around the city, with more people getting on their bikes and walking - especially for short journeys.

In May alone there was a rise of more than 800 bike share rentals compared to last year. 

There are now a number of temporary schemes across the city.

Back in April Madeira Drive was closed to vehicles so cyclists and pedestrians could have the space to themselves, but some feel the bike lane along Old Shoreham Road is not working.  

Cllr Dawn Barnett from Brighton and Hove City Council says: "It's not a suitable place for a cycle lane, but I'm not opposed to it, if it was narrower. If necessary, I think they could have narrowed the pavement a bit, you get very few walkers along this main road."

Next week, another pop-up cycle route will be put in place along the seafront carriageway with 60% of seafront parking being removed to accommodate the 3-metre wide lane.

Many now feel it is time to make lasting changes to our towns and cites.