Nelson Street cycle lane fencing removed by mistake

The Nelson Street cycle lane will soon be closed for the second time after the fencing surrounding it was removed by mistake.

Bristol24/7 understands that the fencing was taken down without the approval of the city council’s transport development management team or the developer who built the contraflow as part of the Everards Printworks scheme.

Fencing around the cycle lane stretching from The Lanes to St John on the Wall church will be reinstated as soon as possible.

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Emails from the council seen by Bristol24/7 reveal that “talks are underway for the developer to reinstate the fencing until the necessary changes are made to make the area safe”.

The email adds: “I would anticipate the fencing to be reinstated imminently.”

A Bristol City Council spokesperson confirmed that the fencing “was removed without the knowledge or approval of the council or developer. We are talking to the developer to get the fencing reinstated as soon as possible.”

Artisan Real Estate have been approached for comment.

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Read more: New cycle lane is an ‘unsafe bodge’

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The cycle lane first closed in June 2022 after being open for just a few days, with the city council promising to get the problems fixed “early in the new year”.

One major problem with the cycle lane is a loading bay in the middle of it where the route becomes shared space with both pedestrians and motor vehicles.

The cycleway is also not clearly differentiated from the footway, causing pedestrians to inadvertently wander into it.

Bristol Cycling Campaign chair Ian Pond said: “Bristol City Council has placed a lot of emphasis on the cycling provision in central Bristol, often to the detriment of elsewhere in the city.

“Yet this key central route connecting the city centre to the main shopping area has been a shambles.

“Now that it has finally reopened it looks like the council has not taken on board what they have learnt from elsewhere or taken into consideration the Department for Transport guidance about clearly distinguishing between pedestrian and cycling space.

“Just what was the point of keeping this area closed for so long if there are no significant improvements?”

Co-shadow cabinet member for transport, Green Party councillor David Wilcox, added: “I’m at a loss as to why Bristol’s Labour administration have taken over a year assess and implement a safety audit on Nelson Street.

“This is an essential east-west cycle and walking route that has been either unsafe to use or blocked for over three years now. The ongoing failure to sort this out suggests an administration that simply doesn’t take transport seriously.

“I hope the council’s transport lead will explain what steps are being taken to make Nelson Street safe and when that work will happen.”

Main photo & videos: Martin Booth; Bike Lane Bingo by Rtiiika

Read next:

• ‘How can removing cycle lanes ever be justified?’
• Inkie repaints mural on Nelson Street 10 years later
• The world’s steepest climb on a bike is in Bristol

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