Have your say on walking and cycling improvements in Abingdon

People living in, working in and visiting Abingdon are invited to share their feedback on proposals to make walking, wheeling and cycling safer and easier along the town’s East St Helen Street, in a survey open until 28 October.

Oxfordshire County Council has drafted the proposals working with local groups including UK active travel charity Sustrans. The proposals will create safer routes for walking, wheeling and cycling across the area, including facilitating two-way cycling along East St Helen Street.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “As well as providing essential safety improvements for people traveling around Abingdon, this work would connect a missing link in a major national cycle route between the Thames Valley and Wales.

“We need to reduce the number of cars on the road in Oxfordshire, and projects like this one enable healthier, more connected, and more accessible journeys. We want walking, cycling and public transport to work for more people, becoming a natural first choice.

“I encourage people to take a look at our plans and share their thoughts to help us finalise a design that works for residents.”

The plan includes improved cycling facilities on East St Helen Street and new pedestrian crossing facilities on the High Street, Bridge Street and Stert Street.

The scheme proposes:

Two parallel cycle and pedestrian zebra crossings for the National Cycle Network 5 (NCN5) route between Abbey Close and East St Helen Street. ​Provision for contraflow cycling allowing travel in both directions for cyclists on East St Helen Street.Two zebra crossings on High Street and Bridge Street.Raised tables to prioritise safer walking, wheeling and cycling at the junction between East St Helen Street and Lombard Street.Continuous footway providing step-free crossing for pedestrians and slow-turning vehicles.New crossings on East St Helen Street and West St Helen Street.Planting and cycle parking where possible.

The location has been identified as a priority in the Abingdon Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP).

A survey is available on the county council’s digital engagement and consultation platform, Let’s talk Oxfordshire for people to share their feedback on the plan. The survey closes at 11.59pm on Tuesday 28 October 2025.

There will be two drop-in events to view the information and chat to project officers, at Abingdon Guildhall on 11 October from 10am to 3pm and 14 October from 4pm to 7pm.

A report summarising the proposal and feedback from the survey will be presented to the county council’s cabinet member for Transport on whether to proceed at a meeting later this year. If approved, construction of the improvements would start in spring 2026. 

‘;