> \u00a31.5m cycle route plan scrapped after two years<\/a><\/p>\n Despite early resistance, supporters of active travel say the council should push ahead with schemes like this.<\/p>\n Harry Gray, from Walk Ride GM, said, \u201cIt happens with every single scheme like this, when it goes to consultation, people do not want change, and they say they don\u2019t want it. But councils need to understand that delivering these schemes is popular in the long run once we get over the hill of hysteria.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen Greater Manchester\u2019s population goes up by a million, what will people do? It will only get worse, and that\u2019s why politicians have to make difficult decisions.<\/p>\n \u201cI would urge the council to approve this scheme, it\u2019s been proven that if you stand by a scheme like this, it will be popular in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n A council report acknowledged that projects of this nature would normally be approved because they align with Greater Manchester\u2019s wider transport strategy to encourage safer routes for walking and cycling.<\/p>\n Despite this, it concluded that the scale of opposition meant the Peel Green scheme currently lacks sufficient community backing.<\/p>\n \u201cThe results of the formal traffic modelling and the nature of the objections and feedback received through the engagement and legal consultation processes would typically result in a recommendation to approve a scheme of this type, particularly given the strategic fit with the Greater Manchester Transport Strategy to promote safe routes for active modes.<\/p>\n \u201cHowever, given the volume of negative responses, coupled with a lack of supporting responses for the scheme from the local community, the outcome of the engagement indicates that there is no local support for the Peel Greet Active Travel scheme at this time.\u201d<\/p>\n > Manchester Evening News accused of stoking anti-cycling sentiment after \u201cincorrectly\u201d claiming new bike lane set to be \u201cripped up again\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n The report added that the project could be reconsidered in the future if alternative routes to the motorway network are identified and the number of heavy goods vehicles using Liverpool Road is reduced.<\/p>\n Councillor Lewis Nelson, from the Cadishead and Lower Irlam ward, said previous trials raised concerns about traffic delays. \u201cDuring the trial, residents were queuing for an \u00a0hour to get out of Irlam and Cadishead because of the restriction.\u201d<\/p>\n A 2022 trial to assess the impact of removing the middle lane between Barley Farm and the Peel Green roundabout found that journey times increased by around 30 seconds. Despite this, some residents have questioned the reliability of the data used to support the proposals.<\/p>\n![\"Commuter](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/commuter-segregated-cycle-lane-1-1024x683.jpg\")
Commuter in a segregated cycle lane (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)<\/p>\n