PLYMOUTH CYCLING CAMPAIGN EMBANKMENT ROAD IMPROVEMENT PROPOSALS – THE MAYFLOWER TRAIL

Introduction

This existing traffic free path on National Cycle Network Route 2 is a major cycle highway leading to much of east Plymouth and the South Hams.  Plymouth Cycling Campaign has continuously asked the Council to upgrade this path to comply with the five design criteria set by the Government. These are that networks and routes should be Coherent; Direct; Safe; Comfortable and Attractive.

It is substandard and is little used by people.  Our campaign for this route also includes upgrading existing infrastructure on National Cycle Network Route 2 leading to Plym Valley Trail, Plympton, Newnham Industrial Estate, Chaddlewood, Langage Industrial Estate, Sherford (North) and Ivybridge.

We are pleased to report that we have secured path improvements around Plympton Sewage Works funded by National Highways and Sustrans, but significantly more improvements need to be carried out to make it acceptable to the public.

Existing situation:

• Shared path – Too narrow for most of length
• Adjacent to busy dual carriageway with narrow lanes and no protection or separation
• 4 dangerous junctions
• Experienced riders use main road,
• Less experienced riders afraid to use the path,
• Serious risk of collisions on narrow path – riders knocked into road (similar situation in Portsmouth with fatal consequences).
• Poor surface

Proposals: 

• Create new 4 metre wide path from NCN2/NCN27 junction continuing parallel to railway along estuary foreshore to Laira junction then along estuary foreshore to join existing path running eastwards from Old Laira Rail bridge towards City Centre. This would require a new bridge across the Plym and approx. 1400 metres to be raised above the estuary.
• Upgrade two dangerous sections of existing NCN2 by creating traffic free paths alongside Cot Hill and Glen Road.

Where every journey matters, Plymouth Cycling Campaign considers these are the only solutions which results in safe coherent paths on this important leisure and commuter route between the City Centre with Plympton and its suburbs. Based on evidence from elsewhere we believe this could result in a 25%* shift from cars to bikes, especially during commuting periods.

Plymouth would then have a scenic high-quality world class cycle path (the Mayflower Trail?) between the City and the Plym Valley Trail (NCN27) and the rest of Devon (NCN2), hugely increasing the attraction of Plymouth as a cycle touring city, much more cycle friendly for its inhabitants.