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Bath and North East Somerset Council plans to start work this autumn on a contraflow cycle lane beside the one-way ring road in Royal Victoria Park. The council says it will make cycling safer and connect Upper Weston with the city centre, while many consultation respondents say an existing shared path makes the project unnecessary. Safety, lighting and the value of the £2.35 million scheme remain disputed.
Work is scheduled to begin this autumn on a new contraflow cycle lane in Royal Victoria Park, Bath, despite objections from local cyclists and residents who say an existing shared path already serves people on bikes. Bath and North East Somerset Council says the £2.35 million scheme will create a safer link between Upper Weston and the city centre.
The route will run beside the park’s one-way ring road on its western and southern sides, allowing cyclists to travel against the direction of motor traffic. The council’s plans also include resurfacing footpaths, new pedestrian crossing points and tulip-shaped wand kerbs intended to separate the cycle lane from vehicles. The council says eco-sensitive heritage lighting will be installed at regular intervals.
The scheme is part of the council’s Bath Walking, Wheeling, and Cycling Links programme, which aims to connect surrounding neighbourhoods with the city centre’s walking and cycling infrastructure. For journeys out of the city, cyclists are expected to use the ring road, which has a 10mph speed limit and traffic-calming chicanes.
The council says the new route is intended to address concerns about cyclists riding dangerously on an existing shared path that cuts diagonally through the park. But the project has drawn substantial opposition: 84% of 864 consultation respondents opposed it, according to the source report. That figure describes responses to the council’s consultation; it does not establish the views of all park users or residents.
A disputed route through a busy park
The plans affect how cyclists, pedestrians and drivers share space in one of Bath’s largest public green spaces. Supporters say a separated route could provide a more comfortable connection for people who are less confident cycling beside traffic, including children learning to ride. Opponents question whether a new lane is needed when a shared path already crosses the park, and raise concerns about crossings, cyclist speeds and the route’s perceived safety after dark.
The disagreement also concerns the council’s use of public funds. The £2.35 million cost covers a package of works, including resurfacing and crossings, not just the cycle lane. The source material does not provide a breakdown of those costs or evidence that would settle the competing claims about the route’s safety and usefulness.
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How the plans changed
The council’s initial proposal drew criticism from residents and the local Green Party, who said the park’s isolated and unlit setting could make cycling there unsafe for women and children at night. After a public consultation, the council submitted revised plans that added crossings, footpath resurfacing and physical separators. The earlier design had proposed a painted cycle lane rather than the wand kerbs in the revised version.
The existing route is a shared pedestrian and cycle path running diagonally across the park. The proposed lane follows the ring road instead, including sections where cyclists would travel in the opposite direction to traffic. Local views differ: some cyclists say they can already cross the park without difficulty, while others welcome a quieter, protected route between Upper Weston and town.
“I can’t really understand what problem this is solving.”
— A local cyclist responding to the council consultation
cycling helmet with visibility features
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Safety concerns remain contested
The available information does not establish whether the proposed lane will reduce conflicts between people walking and cycling, or whether the new crossings and two-way movement beside the ring road will create other risks. Some residents report seeing cyclists travel quickly on the existing diagonal path; supporters argue that separating cycle traffic from pedestrians could help. These are local observations and arguments, not independent safety findings provided in the source material.
It is also unclear whether the council will meet residents who have requested a pause, provide further evidence about the scheme, or change the design again. The source report does not specify an exact construction start date, completion date, or a detailed cost breakdown. The effect of the planned lighting on concerns about social safety remains disputed.
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Construction and council response
Under the announced plan, construction is due to start this autumn, alongside resurfacing and the installation of crossing points. The source material does not give a specific start date or timetable for completion. It also does not say whether the council intends to respond to opponents’ request for a meeting or pause implementation.
Attention will turn to whether the revised design is built as described and how the route operates once open. The council’s stated aims and residents’ concerns will remain distinct until more information or evidence is published about the scheme’s safety, use and impact on people moving through the park.
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Key Questions
Where will the new contraflow cycle lane run?
It is planned beside the western and southern sides of Royal Victoria Park’s one-way ring road. Cyclists will travel against the direction of motor traffic on those sections.
When is construction due to begin?
The council announced that work is scheduled to begin this autumn. The source report gives no exact start or completion date.
Why does the council say the lane is needed?
The council says the route will improve connections between Upper Weston and the city centre and address concerns about cyclists using the existing shared path through the park.
Why are some residents opposed?
Opponents say cyclists already have a route through the park and question the need for the project. Others have raised concerns about lighting, perceived safety, crossings and cyclist speeds.
What changes were added after consultation?
The revised plans added pedestrian crossings, footpath resurfacing and wand kerbs to separate the cycle lane from traffic. The council also said it would add heritage lighting at regular intervals.
Source: rss
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