Residents are being invited to view and share feedback on proposals to better link new cycling and walking routes between Bicester’s town centre, business park and residential development. A survey is open from today (18 February 2025).
Oxfordshire County Council has worked with local cycling groups to draft plans aiming to create a new cycleway together with improvements for walking and wheeling on London Road (A41) between the Launton Road junction and Rodney House Roundabout.
London Road is a key route linking the centre of Bicester with the new housing estates at Graven Hill and Wretchwick Green, the Symmetry business park, and surrounding villages including Ambrosden and Arncott.
The designs will follow the latest national cycling standards with cyclists separated from motor vehicles on the road for their safety and to encourage new and inexperienced cyclists of all ages and abilities.
Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “Homes, jobs and businesses will always need good access choices. Joining the dots to make it easier to get safely between key destinations in your neighbourhood is an important consideration for now and for future proofing flexible travel as the town grows.
“More options for local journeys made by walking, wheeling or cycling helps us enjoy what’s around us unfettered by the stress of traffic queues and finding parking space. We can feel healthier and engage more easily with our local environment.
“We’d like to hear how cycling, walking and wheeling around London Road works for you, and how the proposals could support that, or where they may need some changes. This will help to shape the final plans and give us a detailed picture of what matters for you when they are considered for approval.”
The proposals are for:
- A new two-way cycleway on the west and south-west side of London Road between the Ploughley Road and Launton Road junctions. The cycleway will merge with the existing layouts at the Rodney House Roundabout and the new Pioneer Roundabout.
- New pavement sections to improve directness and convenience for walking the route, assisted by new zebra crossings for both cyclists and pedestrians.
- 30mph speed limit along London Road extended to include the section south of Talisman Road up to Rodney House roundabout to further improve safety especially at the new crossing points.
- Resurfacing the existing cycle path linking to the A41.
The project is funded by the government’s Active Travel Fund as part of grants received in 2022 to improve walking and cycling in the county.
Plans are available to view and a survey can be completed on the county council’s digital engagement and consultation platform, Let’s talk Oxfordshire. The consultation closes at 11.59pm on Tuesday 18 March 2025. Feedback will help inform a county council cabinet decision on whether to approve the work. Subject to approval, the proposed works would be carried out later in 2025.
Pic: Chris Snape
