![\"Southern](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/southern-gateway-plans-bristol.png\" "\\"Southern")
Southern Gateway plans, Bristol (credit: Temple Quarter)<\/p>\nDespite plans being approved for a new multi-storey cycle hub near Bristol\u2019s Temple Meads station, cyclists have been told that they could be temporarily prevented from storing their bikes at the facility, for up to two or three years, due to safety concerns about the narrow shared pavement leading to the station.<\/p>\n
A a new, safer alternative to the current shared pedestrian and cycle path, located next to the busy Bath Road and branded \u201cabsolutely horrendous\u201d by local politicians, has long been earmarked and could involve the creation of an active travel-only bridge.<\/p>\n
However, the delays in securing this infrastructure \u2013 the proposed bridge, if approved, is unlikely to be completed for at least four years \u2013 have prompted councillors to call for one of the lanes on Bath Road currently allocated for motorists to be temporarily removed, allowing cyclists to access the bike hub.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, plans to charge cyclists for using the cycle parking hub have also come in for criticism, with one local Labour councillor asking: \u201cAre we going to be known as the country that charges for cycle parking?\u201d<\/p>\n
Southern Gateway plans, Bristol (credit: Temple Quarter)<\/p>\n
Approved unanimously on Wednesday by Bristol City Council, the Southern Gateway \u201cmulti-modal transport hub\u201d will be built at the bottom of Bath Road and feature a seven-storey car park with 379 spaces along with a three-storey cycle hub, which will have space for 538 bikes and enable cyclists to securely park their bikes while using the nearby Temple Meads train station.<\/p>\n
The project marks the first of several planning applications from the Temple Quarter company, a new collaborative organisation consisting of the council, the West of England Combined Authority, Network Rail, and Homes England, and focused on regenerating the area.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is the first critical piece of the jigsaw, delivering on proposals long set out,\u201d Nick Finney, planning manager at Bristol Temple Quarter, said this week, BristolLive<\/a> reports.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have worked closely in partnership with Network Rail on this scheme and this is one of a number of upcoming station improvement projects that will deliver a step-change in accessing facilities at the station.\u201d<\/p>\n However, members of the council\u2019s transport department have raised concerns that the Southern Gateway, and the prospect of more cyclists parking their bikes before using the train, could lead to greater numbers of people cycling and walking along the narrow \u2018shared path\u2019 on Bath Road.<\/p>\n Council staff have claimed that the additional trips generated by the proposed cycle hub could lead a greater risk of someone \u201cbeing seriously injured or killed\u201d.<\/p>\n While a new protected cycle lane will be built outside the Southern Gateway as part of the project, the narrow shared path, located next to a busy four-lane road, will remain north and south, until funding can be secured to improve the area\u2019s walking and cycling infrastructure.<\/p>\n Last August, we reported that the narrow stretch of pavement, shared by pedestrians and cyclists, could be improved after Active Travel England money was relocated following an underspend<\/a> on other cycling and walking projects in the city.<\/p>\n And in September 2025, it was announced that transport planners are currently exploring the potential to create a new walking and cycling bridge over the River Avon, providing an alternative to the current route.<\/p>\n A \u00a3712,000 grant from the Department for Transport is currently be used to draw up an outline business case for the bridge, with Labour councillor Tim Rippington welcoming the news, while arguing the current path \u201cup and down the Bath Road is absolutely horrendous for cyclists and pedestrians\u201d.<\/p>\n However, while the most optimistic forecasts predict that the bridge could be built and opened within four years, work on the Southern Gateway will start in June 2026 and will take two years.<\/p>\n According to the council, one option is to close a lane on the Bath Road temporarily, though a local authority report on the matter considered this move to be \u201ccontentious\u201d.<\/p>\n If that isn\u2019t possible, the council says they would explore \u201cmothballing\u201d the cycle hub until the bridge is built \u2013 a possibility that was heavily criticised by councillors at this week\u2019s meeting.<\/p>\n \u201cThat would be incredibly frustrating for cyclists to have this fantastic new facility, and they can\u2019t use it. That wouldn\u2019t go down well in terms of PR,\u201d Liberal Democrat Andrew Varney said.<\/p>\n \u201cAt the moment along the pavement there is a very meagre cycle lane. I would agree that the better option is the temporary closure of one lane,\u201d added the Green Party\u2019s Abi Finch.<\/p>\n \u201cI generally don\u2019t cycle to the station if I\u2019m away from Bristol for more than one night, because I don\u2019t feel safe to leave my bike overnight. So I really welcome having a secure cycle facility. It\u2019s quite exciting.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Bath](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/bath-road-bristol.jpg\" "\\"Bath")
Bath Road, Bristol (credit: Google Street View)<\/p>\n