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27
Feb
Cyclists celebrate as Harrogate gets first parallel crossing in North Yorkshire
Cyclists have welcomed the £150,000 creation of a parallel crossing on Oatlands Drive in Harrogate.
Parallel crossings, also known as tiger crossings, have separate space for pedestrians and cyclists, meaning riders do not have to dismount.
This is the first parallel crossing in North Yorkshire.
It is one of two new crossings that will help cyclists and pedestrians on Slingsby Walk navigate junctions with main roads.
A more traditional toucan crossing was completed on Wetherby Road in October last year.
The new parallel crossing on Oatlands Drive.
The crossing at the Wetherby Road junction with Slingsby Walk.
The creation of the crossings involved the loss of Stray land, which meant other land had to be exchanged to become part of the Stray.
This lengthy legal process slowed down progress on the schemes.
Malcolm Margolis, of Harrogate District Cycle Action, said:
The crossing at Slingsby Walk, along the edge of Harrogate’s 200-acre Stray, is next to St Aidan’s secondary school, and provides a much-needed link in the town’s walking and cycling network.
Local cycling campaigners, who have campaigned for the crossings for over a decade, are delighted that the council has now provided these vital crossings.
More to come on Oatlands?
Further measures to improve active travel on Oatlands Drive could follow.
The council announced plans in 2024 to introduce double yellow lines on both sides of the road and traffic calming measures after previous proposals to make the road one-way were ditched.
Oatlands Drive currently has double yellow lines on the western side between Slingsby Walk and York Place. Cars often park in the cycle lane on the opposite side, and mount the Stray, especially when football matches take place at weekends.
A council spokesperson said this month:
“The council will be carrying out further consultation with residents and stakeholders on the proposed parking and waiting restrictions on Oatlands Drive. Design work for the 20mph zone and traffic-calming measures are ongoing with public consultation planned in the spring. Subject to the outcomes of that consultation, construction is due to be scheduled for later in the 2026/27 financial year.”
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