Futuristic green cycle lanes appear in Hull city centre

QUOTE
This is the future of Hull city centre travel.

Bollards line the controversial new cycle lane stretching from the corner of Charles Street along Freetown Way.

The work is part of a £2.5m council project to create a continuous cycle network across Hull city centre.

The network will eventually cover Freetown Way, as well as commuter routes into Hull on Anlaby Road, Beverley Road, Holderness Road and Spring Bank.

The first phase is set to be completed on or by the week commencing August 21.

Pictures taken on Saturday show the bollards, along with traffic tailbacks.

Work to install pop-up cycle lanes in Spring Bank and Ferensway has been ongoing and is expected to be completed by Friday, August 28.

City council officials say carrying out some of the works overnight should minimise disruption to traffic.

The council is spending £1.1m of its own money, with almost £1.4m coming from the Department for Transport's active travel grant scheme.

Deputy council leader Daren Hale, who is also portfolio holder for economic investment, believes the new network is a good long term investment for Hull despite a current £35m budget shortfall created by coronavirus.

"We've got to remember that whenever we spend money on these projects we're also putting people to work," he said.

"We need to ensure there's jobs in the city and these works will put money in local people's pockets.

"If we hadn't bidded for the £1.4m then another council would have done and wouldn't have got it.

"There's also savings in the long term from reduced budget pressure on the NHS if people are healthier."

The plans come in the midst of controversy over the extension of bus lane hours to a full working day, with cars banned from using them between from 7am to 6.30pm in order to make cyclists feel safer.

https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/news...centre-4428753

On Sat, 15 Aug 2020 13:57:51 -0700 (PDT), Simon Mason
wrote:

"We've got to remember that whenever we spend money on these projects we're also putting people to work," he said.

"We need to ensure there's jobs in the city and these works will put money in local people's pockets.

Empty bike lanes and reduced numbers going to the city centre will get
people to work and put money in their pockets?

Must be a supporter of corbynomics.