Could the cycling ban be lifted in Worcester city centre?
BBCA 20-year cycling ban in Worcester city centre could be relaxed in a bid to encourage people to dump their cars.
Worcester City Council is pushing for an investigation over watering down a traffic regulation order (TRO) which bars cycling between 10:00 and 18:00 through city centre streets.
The rule was introduced in 2006 to help pedestrians and shoppers navigate the city safely.
Green Councillor Tor Pingree said: "A lot of cyclists do say the city is very 'unfriendly' for people who want to cycle - it's about time it was looked at again."
What are the rules now?
The current TRO stands seven days a week.
It covers High Street as well as more than 10 other routes in and around it, including the Cornmarket, The Shambles, Pump Street, Broad Street, Mealcheapen Street and Copenhagen Street.
The ban means cyclists must disembark and push their bicycles on foot during 10:00 and 18:00, and it also sees people cycling north-south or east-west forced to travel around the city centre, rather than head through it on their bike.
The original hours were set at 10:00 to 16:30, but it was extended to 18:00 in 2019 to cater for increased shopper footfall later in the day.
People who break the TRO and choose to cycle face a fine, issued by the county council as the highways authority.
What is being proposed?
Worcester City Council has approved a motion asking Worcestershire County Council to explore the options for "improving cycling connectivity through the city centre".
The motion calls for a probe into the "feasibility of allowing cycling through all restricted areas in the city centre" covered by the current regulation.
It also calls for a "comprehensive" consultation with the public, including blind and partially sighted people, as well as businesses, to gather views.
The motion suggests that if any changes are made, they should first be adopted on a 12-month trial basis, to assess the impact.
City councillors have told the BBC any changes are "unlikely" to include the High Street and will instead more likely focus on the 10 or so streets around it.
Why is this being raised now?
Watering down the cycling ban would be a major shift in Worcester - until now the direction of travel, to excuse the pun, has been to extend the ban's hours and scope.
But there has been growing unease at how difficult Worcester is to cycle across, and the lack of cycle lanes along the busiest routes.
There are also more Green councillors at city and county level in Worcestershire than ever before, which is the big driver behind the move - and the city's Labour and Lib Dem councillors are happy to explore it further.
The county council - which is controlled by a Green-Lib Dem-independent coalition - will have the task of proposing any actual changes.
Green councillor Tor Pingree, who created the motion, said: "There's a lot of examples of cycling lanes that are very short and don't go to where they need to go.
"I know lots of young people in particular, who won't cycle because they feel Worcester is unsafe because of all the cars.
"There are plenty of cities where even if you can't cycle along their high streets, the pedestrianised areas around it are actually available to cyclists - places like York and Cambridge have very historic city centre layouts like we do, but manage to do it better."
A spokesperson for the county council said: "Once we have formally received the letter from Worcester City Council, we will respond in due course."
What's the reaction?
There will be quite a debate ahead - not least from some councillors who oppose any changes.
Reform's Alan Amos, who is a city and county councillor, said it was "unprecedented" to attempt to "undo a pedestrianised city centre", and said he felt it would "endanger people and create unnecessary conflict".
Danny Brothwell, a cyclist from the Bike Worcester group, called the whole debate "long overdue" and said he was "so pleased" it was being raised.
The BBC also spoke to shoppers and workers in the city centre and found mixed views.
Colette Kelly, 50, said: "I cycle a fair bit and the roads aren't great - what we really need is more cycle lanes.
"If this helps start a bigger debate, then it's good."
Steve Mantle, a pensioner, said: "They should keep it as it is. There's enough hazards in town already, without adding cyclists."
John Livermore said: "I used to cycle but stopped, mainly because I didn't feel that safe.
"I don't have an issue with [the TRO] being looked at or even changed a bit, it feels odd that we can't allow people to cycle through as long as they're careful."
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