A cyclist is injured in Doncaster every week - but these are the projects being put in place to make you safer on your bike

A cyclist is injured on Doncaster’s roads every week – despite major cycling projects across the borough.
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Official figures reveal 276 people have been hurt over four years – and that is only in incidents which have involved the police.

Last year saw the lowest casualty rate among riders for years, with 61, 13 per cent down on 2016, with 21 described as serious injuries.

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Martin Maltby, who organises the Doncaster cycle festival and runs Don Valley Cycles, said much had been done to improve the safety of the borough’s roads for cyclists – but there are still areas where cyclists felt vulnerable.

Hallgate, Quality Streets cycle laneHallgate, Quality Streets cycle lane
Hallgate, Quality Streets cycle lane
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He said: “It is common that a customer brings in a bent bike after they’ve been knocked off. Most seem to be told ‘sorry mate, didn’t see you.

"Infrastructure can always be improved, although we are seeing new schemes. It is the long commuter routes I would like to see implemented. A lot of it is piecemeal, with good and not so good sections.

"I get it that it’s down to money, but if you have the infrastructure people will cycle. You can improve routes, but also educate drivers and cyclists. Cyclists have to ride respectfully, and not jump red lights or pull over when drivers are not expecting it.

Bennetthorpe cycle routeBennetthorpe cycle route
Bennetthorpe cycle route
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"Personally, I think cycling to the Amazon lakes from Lakeside is daunting – you have to go close to a busy 60mph road, travelling from the Lakeside Village towards the B&Q, over the Mallard Bridge, over the railway lines. A lot of cyclists go that way to the Woodfield Way cycling route. Once you get there it’s a fantastic cycling utopia to Amazon lakes, but getting there is scary.

"The A60 to Wadworth is quite scary too.”

He also felt Bawtry Road near the Dome could be scary because of drivers trying to reverse off driveways.

But he said there are good schemes.

Bennetthorpe cycle routeBennetthorpe cycle route
Bennetthorpe cycle route

"Bawtry Road used to be difficult, with bollards in the middle,” he said. “Now there’s a cycle path down the left hand side where there’s a kerb and a grass verge – a proper cycle path from Bessacarr to the Miller and Carter.”

Ros Jones, Mayor of Doncaster said Doncaster Council was committed to providing further walking and cycling investment to encourage active travel whether for work or pleasure, taking into consideration current Covid regulations.

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Said: “This includes investing in new and improved cycling and walking routes which expands our active travel network and delivers significant health and wellbeing benefits by encouraging more people to get active for many of their everyday journeys.“We have secured funding from the Transforming Cities Fund, the Active Travel Fund and other funding programmes which is seeing numerous schemes dramatically improve cycling and walking routes right across the borough. These projects improve safety, help reduce congestion on our roads and will have beneficial impact on air quality levels which supports our Climate and Biodiversity agenda.”

Among high profile cycling plans in Doncaster are:

> A 2.5km shared pedestrian and cycle lane along Sheffield Road from Conisbrough to Warmsworth.

> Re-allocation of some road space from cars to bikes on Thorne Road including on-carriageway cycle lanes.

> The Balby Road Quietway scheme to sign cyclists down quieter 20mph streets and create a segregated cycle lane when re-entering Balby Road at Roberts Road.

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> Leger Way Cycle Route, signing cyclists down 20mph Lonsdale Avenue instead of a busy route.

> Thorne Low Traffic Neighbourhood plan to stop cars using quiet residential streets to as a rat run to bypass the traffic lights on Kings Road, around Queen Street and North Eastern Road.

> Train Station Accessibility Schemes planned to create new walking and new cycling infrastructure connecting people to the stations as well as improving existing facilities nearby. This will see segregated cycle facilities installed and additional cycle parking at Adwick, Bentley, Conisbrough, Hatfield and Stainforth, Kirk Sandall, Mexborough, Thorne North, and Thorne South stations.

> An East of Manvers Cycle Route to install ‘quality cycle infrastructure’.

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> Cleveland Street and Duke Street Cycling Improvements will install segregated cycle facilities.

> Edlington Walking and Cycling Improvements to provide a cycle link between the Trans Pennine Trail and the Woodfield Greenway.

> Balby Walking and Cycling Improvements to provide off road cycle facilities and on road ‘quiet ways’.

> A Rossington to iPort employment connector bridge for pedestrians, cyclists and bus users

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> Thorne Road to Town Moor Cycling Route consisting of an off road segregated cycle route alongside Thorne Road, between the Thorne Road/Barnby Dun Roundabout and the hospital crossroads. Council bosses say NHS workers and commuters will have a viable cycling option along an area identified as having the second highest propensity to cycle in Doncaster.

> An Armthorpe Walking and Cycling Improvements scheme will see an extension to existing shared use pavements along Doncaster Road, onto Church Street.

> West Moor Link/A18 Walking and Cycling Improvements will see improvements to pedestrian and cycle facilities alongside the A18 from Leger Way roundabout to West Moor Link. Bosses say it will enable people travelling from the north east of the borough to areas such as Lakeside, iPort and Bawtry Road, creating a link that has been missing in Doncaster’s cycle network allowing more people to cycle to work.

> A Doncaster Station to College Walking and Cycling Improvements project is due see improvements for pedestrians and cyclists from Doncaster Interchange toDoncaster College along Grey Friars Road.

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> A Thorne and Moorends Employment connector scheme will extend cycling facilities connecting Moorends to Thorne through to the Omega Boulevard business park, and with Thorne North train station connecting users who commute using multi modal journeys by train and on foot/cycle. Officials say the area has the largest propensity to cycle in the borough.

> A planned North Bridge to Bennetthorpe Cycling Connector including a cycle lane which connects residents Bawtry Road and the Cenotaph.

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Nancy Fielder, editor.