CYCLING enthusiasts have won backing from the powerful Downs committee for traffic restrictions on Ladies Mile.
The Bristol Cycling Campaign has revived a plan to create a cycling loop around the Downs, which would involve traffic restrictions on Ladies Mile.
They want to see Fountains Hill, which connects the bottom of the road with Bridge Valley Road, made one-way southbound, as well as a banned right turn from Stoke Road to the top of Ladies Mile.
Ian Pond, chair of the campaign, made the case at the June meeting of the Downs committee, which is made up of councillors and members of the Society of Merchant Venturers business group.
Mr Pond said: “It bisects the Downs and it’s a much faster road than Circular Road. A way to achieve a more calm and safer environment for people to cycle, and also to be safer for dog walkers and all the other users of the Downs, would be to restrict through-traffic on Ladies Mile.
“This could be an interesting way to make the Downs a more peaceful place for all its users; not restrict vehicle access in any way, so people could still get to the Downs who have mobility issues or the need to bring equipment; and would simply stop rat-running and commuter cut-throughs, which I think does create an issue for everybody.”
The family leisure loop would go along Downleaze, Rockleaze, Circular Road and Ladies Mile.
The committee backed the plans, but it is Bristol City Council that has the power to make the road changes so the scheme would need to go before a transport committee and probably a public consultation.
It would be likely to be opposed by motorists, who use Ladies Mile as a cut-through from north Bristol to the Portway.
Liberal Democrat Councillor Caroline Gooch said: “Ladies Mile urgently needs traffic calming. I had to lend a spade to a neighbour recently, to bury their dog after it was killed by a car speeding along Ladies Mile. It’s a dangerous road.”
Traffic calming was preferred over building a new cycle path next the road, given the expensive cost and impact on the grass and nearby trees. Ladies Mile has twice been closed recently for a Sunday, as part of a trial, hailed as a “big street party” including with children learning how to ride a bike.
By Alex Seabrook, Local Democracy Reporting Service