Gwynedd residents & visitors given opportunity to shape future of cycle, walk and wheel routes in Bangor

GWYNEDD residents and visitors are being asked to help shape the future of ‘safe travel’ in Bangor by considering new ‘cycle, walk and wheel’ route ideas.

The Active Travel Infrastructure scheme concerns the Penrhos Road, the Faenol Roundabout, Penchwintan Road, and Bangor Railway Station.

The busy route connects residential areas with schools, transport hubs, Ysbyty Gwynedd and employment sites.

Three plans are mooted as part of efforts to devise” safer” and “more accessible travel” in a collaborative project between Transport for Wales, Cyngor Gwynedd, with WSP support.

Among improvements proposed are new cycle lanes, shared use paths, improved footways, crossings, quiet roads, and speed calming.

The public is being invited to view three draft plans on the council’s website and take part in a survey.

Draft Plan One suggests improvements on the A487 and Penrhos Road. It includes advisory cycle lanes in each direction on Penrhos Road.

Draft Plan One describes a shared use path along Penrhos Road, mainly 3m wide. The road would be narrowed to 6m to create “a safer route for all users, and reduction in possible collisions,” the blueprint states.

A segregated footway/cycle way for westbound users, and proposed parallel crossing for cycles, pedestrians and wheelers, are marked. The path would be widened by the community centre on Penrhos Road.

Plan Two suggests removing a bus lay-by for an on- carriageway bus-stop by Ysgol Y Faenol and zebra crossing. It also suggests two crossings, one each side of the Ysbyty Gwynedd roundabout. Plan Two moots crossings and routes to Ysgol Y Garnedd, Ysgol Friars and Ysgol Cae Top by a shared-use path.

Plan Three sees signage and markings at crossings on Penrhos Avenue, a proposed zebra link to a shared use path to Ffordd Coed Mawr. It also includes ‘advisory’ road cycle lanes.

“With space being insufficient on Penchwintan Road to continue the shared use path, it is envisaged cyclists would use the road at this point.”

To encourage drivers to give space to cyclists up the hill, cycle lanes could be marked. They would be advisory, allowing cars to use the space “but would help drivers judge passing width”.

A shared use path would connect Holyhead Road via Belmont Road and an existing bus stop in the carriageway relocated on Penrhos Road. Parallel crossing would connect St Davids Drive and Penchwintan Road.

Plan Three proposes a connection to the railway station.

Cyngor Gwynedd and Transport for Wales say they are “keen” to improve active travel access to the rear of the station.

Other improvements, including investigations over the existing Caernarfon Road underpass “are being developed as part of a separate scheme,” it states.

A relocated bus stop would allow for a parallel crossing near Euston Road.

A crossing would allow for cyclists, pedestrians and wheelers to connect with Penchwintan Road and Penrhos Road.

Advisory cycle lanes are suggested along Penchwintan Road, with shared use paths link up with a designated “quiet street” on Heol Dewi.

Councillor Dafydd Meurig, Cyngor Gwynedd Cabinet Member for Environment said: “As a Council, we are eager to make it as convenient and safe as possible for people to walk and cycle, to get to work, shop or to relax We encourage anyone that lives in or visits to take the chance to have their say on these plans for Bangor. The comments submitted will be used to evolve the designs further.”

See the council’s website for more details, and take part in the survey. The consultation closes June 4.