Proposal
This consultation is now closed.
Work is progressing on a Greater Manchester-wide programme to make journeys on foot or by bike much easier and more attractive.
Chris Boardman, Greater Manchester’s Cycling Walking Commissioner, unveiled an innovative plan to create a city-region-wide cycling and walking network.
The network will be made up of more than 1,800 miles of routes, including 400 miles of Dutch-style segregated bike lanes, and will be the largest joined-up system of walking and cycling routes in the UK.
Once built, the network will better connect every community in Greater Manchester, benefiting 2.7 million people and making cycling and walking an alternative to the car.
In support of this ambition, the Mayor of Greater Manchester has allocated £160 million to the Mayor’s Cycling and Walking Challenge Fund. This has been made possible thanks to the national government’s Transforming Cities Fund which is investing in public and sustainable transport to improve productivity and spread prosperity.
New cycling and walking links in your area.
Improvements have been made to this route in the past, but not to all of it, and not enough to make more people want to use it. When we consulted with people about the towpath before, they asked for Rochdale Canal to be part of future improvements, asked for better cycling conditions, improved path surfaces and wider paths.
With this in mind we're looking to create a route which more people will use running from the border with Oldham to the New Islington development near Great Ancoats Street. A new bridge has connected the canal towpath to Redhill Street, and a crossing will link to better cycle routes in the Northern Quarter. This will join all communities along the canal which will benefit from the development of this traffic-free corridor, and better ‘cross-canal’ links to schools and other facilities in Miles Platting and Newton Heath.
These plans will link neighbourhoods together, making a safer and better route in to and out of the city, and a pleasant space for leisure activities.
They will benefit from the development of:
- this traffic-free corridor
- better ‘cross-canal’ links to schools and other facilities in Miles Platting and Newton Heath
When we have consulted with people about the towpath before, they asked for Rochdale Canal to be part of future improvements, and asked for better cycling conditions, wider and improved path surfaces. Improvements have been made to this route in the past, but not to all of it, and we want to encourage more people to use it.
These plans will link neighbourhoods together, making a safer and better route into and out of the city, and a pleasant space for leisure activities.
Other benefits would be:
- More people walking and cycling - both healthy exercise
- More people using a better, safer route, meaning fewer short car journeys, reducing local congestion.
- A more pleasant space to walk and cycle for people of every age and ability
- The road and area around schools would be a safer and more enjoyable place for children and parents.
- Better access to public transport will have a knock on effect on car use across the city, encouraging more residents to use public transport over cars - meaning less congestion and better air quality across the city