Consultation Shows Strong Support for Cycling in Full Length of Broad Street

An informal on-line consultation on cycling in Broad Street has resulted in a clear majority of respondents being in favour of allowing cycling the entire length of the street.

Residents were invited to take part in the consultation which asked if cycling should be allowed throughout Broad Street, whether it should be banned completely in Broad Street or whether the existing arrangements should remain.

A total of 1,283 responses were received with 796 (62 per cent) in favour of allowing cycling the entire length of the street, 448 (35 per cent) in favour of not allowing cycling at all and 39 (three per cent) opting for no change to the current arrangements.

Broad Street was partially pedestrianised in the early 1990s, which resulted in the introduction of a cycling ban between the West Street/St Marys Butts Junction and Queen Victoria Street.

When the remainder of Broad Street was pedestrianised in 2000, the existing cycle links on Broad Street East were retained to allow access via Cross Street and Queen Victoria Street to the north of the Town Centre. However, the existing cycling restrictions in Broad Street West remained.

This resulted in inconsistent cycling regulations which were difficult to enforce.

A consultation into the proposed review of the cycling regulations in Broad Street was hosted on the council’s website from November 9th to December 31st.

The result of the consultation will now be reported to a meeting of the council’s Traffic Management Sub-Committee on Thursday 14th January.

Councillors will be asked to approve a formal statutory consultation on permitting cycling the entire length of Broad Street and any objections will be reported to a future meeting of the sub-committee.

Cllr Tony Page, Reading’s Lead Councillor for Strategic Environment, Planning and Transport, said:

“I don’t believe the current situation where cycling is allowed in one half of Broad Street and banned in the other is sensible.

“There were some strongly-held opinions and well-argued cases made by those for and against cycling in Broad Street and every comment was read.

“However, the public consultation has shown a clear preference for cycling to be allowed the entire length of Broad Street and councillors will consider the next steps at the Sub-Committee.”