A section of National Cycle Network 52 has been reopened, with new public space for the community to enjoy. It's part of bigger plans to improve active travel connections in Coventry.
A group of friends enjoy walking along the newly revamped section of National Cycle Network 52 in Coventry. Photo: Mark Radford/Sustrans
A new and refurbished 500-metre length of National Cycle Network Route 52 between Warwick University and Charter Avenue in Coventry has been upgraded to improve access for active travel.
We held a community celebration event to open the route on August 22, 2024, giving local people a chance to try out the route.
Members of the community took part in a tree identification walk led by Sustrans staff, had a go at making cycle-powered art using an ingenious contraption combining paper plates, paint and and a specially adapted bike, and brought along cycles to be serviced at a Dr Bike cycle maintenance stall.
Local councillor Jim O’Boyle attended the event to see the improvements, alongside Sustrans Midlands & East Director, Clare Maltby, as well as University of Warwick Vice Chancellor, Stuart Croft, and Mark Corbin from Transport for West Midlands.
A new public green area is located near Cannon Park Shopping Centre, with wildflowers and seating. Photo: Mark Radford/Sustrans
Connecting local communities
Route 52 stretches north from Warwick through Coventry, Nuneaton and Coalville, linking with National Cycle Network Route 6, just west of Loughborough.
The works have expanded the National Cycle Network by building a new dedicated cycleway and a new footway between Warwick University and Charter Avenue, as well as a toucan crossing on Lynchgate Road and segregated shared use paths in a public realm area alongside Cannon Park Shopping Centre.
This complements previous improvements to the cycle route along Charter Avenue, between Lynchgate Road and the A45.
Longer term vision
The completed route is part of an exciting longer-term plan to make Coventry station more accessible via active travel, increasing access for residents and students across South Coventry, with the next stage due to start in Autumn 2024.
The National Cycle Network connects people and communities, and this new section will make active travel more accessible for Canley residents and university students.
Aerial view of the active travel route on National Cycle Network 52 in Coventry. Photo: Courtesy of Coventry City Council
Points of interest
The new paths are ideal for people walking and cycling for leisure, as well as for commuting for work and study.
Warwick University’s Coventry campus staff and students will benefit from a traffic-free route that runs alongside the university and into the city.
A key point of interest for the path is its location alongside Cannon Park Shopping Centre, offering local residents and students the option to travel actively to the much-used retail outlets, including an Aldi supermarket.
Space for nature
To the west of Aldi, new walking and wheeling paths have been built, seating will be added in a few weeks, trees have been planted and wildflower seeds sown to create a new green space for the community to enjoy.
Formalising 'desire lines'
The paths were mapped out by designers at Coventry City Council by following desire lines already used by the public.
Desire lines are unplanned paths that are informally created by pedestrians through regular usage, such as grass worn down to a mud path due to numerous people using a shortcut over time.
By assessing public use, Sustrans and Coventry City Council were able to create paths that suit the needs of the community.
The work was funded by Sustrans and delivered by Coventry City Council. Sustrans provided £1.5 million in a sub grant to Coventry City Council to deliver the work.
This project with the council is just one chapter of Sustrans’ national programme funded by the Department for Transport, to improve the National Cycle Network and create accessible Paths for Everyone.
The overarching goal is to create a safe, accessible, and traffic-free Network that can be enjoyed by everyone.
Ribbon cutting image shows, left to right Alistair Crisp (Sustrans Network Development Manager – West Midlands), Mark Corbin (Transport for West Midlands), Clare Maltby (Sustrans Midlands & East Director), Jim O’Boyle (Coventry City Councillor) and Stuart Croft (University of Warwick Vice Chancellor). Photo: Mark Radford/Sustrans.
Clare Maltby, Midlands and East director at Sustrans, welcomed the community to the opening event and said: “We are thrilled to showcase the new and improved Warwick University to Charter Avenue section of the National Cycle Network.
"It’s an example of what we hope to achieve, as we progress our Paths for Everyone vision to connect Coventry Station to the surrounding areas, linking communities around South Coventry.
"We hope that this upgraded route can now become a vibrant, multi-user, traffic-free corridor that will connect communities with business, study and employment opportunities.”
Local people had a go on the art bike, using pedal power and paint to make a piece of art. Photo: Mark Radford/Sustrans
Coventry Councillor Jim O’Boyle, Cabinet Member for Jobs, Regeneration and Climate Change, said: "Building the cycleway infrastructure on Lynchgate Road, not only improves access to the University of Warwick campus and Cannon Park shopping centre, but the new toucan crossings will more safely connect pedestrians and cyclists to the existing cycle track along Charter Avenue, which links Kenilworth to Coventry.
"We are beginning to build us a really good network of top quality segregated cycle routes – and this is important because the biggest barrier to cycling is perceived safety.
"This work also complements our ambition to be a greener city and sits well with our pioneering Coventry Very Light Rail, the fact Coventry will be the UK’s first all-electric bus city and our ambition for on-street charge points.”
Coventry Councillor Patricia Hetherton, Cabinet Member for City Services, said: “We are delighted to see the Lynchgate Road cycleway is now complete. Creating better conditions for walking, wheeling and cycling in the city so that people rely less on their cars is a key priority for us.
"These kind of good quality new routes give people options making it easier for pedestrians to move around, especially those with mobility issues.”
The new path increases accessibility for disabled people by being wide enough for bikes such as tricycles. It runs alongside the University of Warwick, seen in the background. Photo: Mark Radford/Sustrans
Stuart Croft, University of Warwick Vice Chancellor, said: “The upgraded Route 52 is a significant step towards enhancing connectivity and promoting healthier, greener transportation.
“We are proud to support initiatives that not only benefit our students and staff but also contribute to the wellbeing of the wider Coventry community. This project exemplifies our dedication to innovation and collaboration in building a more sustainable future.”
