Stricter rules planned for cyclists in city centre

Briggate is Leeds' busiest shopping street and would be included in the new measures

Stricter measures could be implemented to prevent people riding bicycles and e-bikes in busy pedestrianised areas of Leeds city centre.

The council said it was responding to safety concerns from members of the public over the estimated 1,100 cyclists and e-bike riders who use Briggate each day.

These include "heavy" bikes favoured by delivery drivers, Leeds City Council said, with the local authority stating some had been modified to reach speeds beyond the maximum legal assisted speed of 15.5mph.

A council spokesperson said these bikes potentially represented a "serious risk to pedestrian safety in the event of a collision".

The Briggate Action Plan, soon to be considered by councillors, would make it a requirement for cyclists to walk with their bicycles and e-bikes on Briggate, Lands Lane, Commercial Street, Albion Place and lower Albion Street during extended pedestrianised hours.

These areas are currently pedestrianised between 10:30 and 19:00, but the council is proposing to extend these to 10:00 until 20:00.

The plan also includes proposals to ban street vendors from defined areas within pedestrianised streets.

If approved, a consultation will take place to gather more views from the public and local businesses, the authority added.

In a public survey last year, 61% of respondents said delivery cyclists in pedestrianised areas negatively impacted their city centre experience.

Briggate is the busiest shopping street in Leeds, with a weekly footfall of more than 250,000, the council said.

Under the proposals, anyone breaching the restrictions on cycling and street selling could be given a fixed penalty notice.

Councillor Jonathan Pryor, Leeds City Council's deputy leader and executive member for economy, transport, and sustainable development, said: "Briggate in particular is one of the city's retail crown jewels and we want to do all we can to ensure it remains an attractive, appealing and above all safe destination.

"These proposals are designed to be a starting point and an important opportunity to bring about some changes in the city centre in light of issues the public have raised with us."

Members of the council's executive board will be asked to approve the start of a consultation on the plan at a meeting on 15 October, with the changes set to be delivered in the next two years.

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