Key Bid Points

This bid will contribute towards a number of ambitions:

• Improved accessibility: cycling and walking provisions should be suitable for all ages and abilities, to encourage new riders and pedestrians to get out and about as well as cater for more experienced residents, commuters and visitors
• Improved connectivity: these proposals build on the existing national cycle routes in Gloucestershire, and deliver our Local Cycling and Walking investment Plan (LCWIP) ambitions, helping to connect more residents, amenities and places of employment. It also links to key pubic transport access points, including Cheltenham and Gloucester stations
• Greener Transport: significant carbon reduction benefits health and wellbeing as well as tackling climate change and poor air quality. In 2019 the county council announced a climate action plan for Gloucestershire to become a  carbon neutral county by 2050
• Boost the economy: allowing residents, commuters and visitors to safely social distance is vital to restarting our local economy as Gloucestershire recovers from the Coronavirus pandemic. We know that, globally, cycling delivers substantially more economic value to local retailers than driving. There are significant longer term benefits to green transport options and tourism. Improving air quality and reducing congestion will make popular tourist destinations in both urban and rural areas more attractive. Improving connectivity and accessibility will encourage active and climate conscious tourism

The bid is split up into five schemes which echo our strategic network ambitions and are believed to have the greatest level of impact for Gloucestershire:

1. Gloucester to Cheltenham Cycle way (B4063)
2. The Central Severn Vale (LCWIP)
3. Tewkesbury connections
4. Stroud town centre
5. Rural connections

You can see more information about these schemes in the following sections.