Bradford Leeds Cycle Superhighway sees 800 users a day, data shows

A dedicated cycle route linking Leeds to Bradford averages more than 800 users every day, data shows.

The Bradford Leeds Cycle Superhighway was developed over the past decade at a cost of £39m but has been criticized for not attracting enough users.

West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) said cycle counting sensors on all cycle routes in the region recorded a total of 13 million journeys over the 10-year period.

WYCA added that the new data shows the region has made significant progress in cycling since the Tour de France came to Yorkshire a decade ago.

The famous Grand Départ started from Leeds in July 2014 and passed through West Yorkshire before heading to the Dales.

Since then, more than 60 miles of new biking and walking trails have been built or improved by WYCA.

The Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, said: “We want to encourage more people to choose greener ways to travel to help reduce traffic and emissions as we look to become a zero carbon region by 2038.

“Continued investment in our cycleway network is vital to creating a greener, better-connected region that works for everyone.”

Much of the City Connect route between Leeds and Bradford was ordinary road before dedicated cycle lanes were added, with curbs to prevent cars wandering into the cycle lane.

Ben Hall, from Moortown, uses the route every day to cycle to work in Bradford.

“Everything is clearly marked so people are guided to do what they are supposed to do,” he said.

“I don’t have to stick out my elbows to be more assertive.

“I can only use the part of the road that was designed for bicycles.”

However, the 14-mile (22 km) motorway has faced some criticism for not attracting more users after £39m of investment.

Bradford councilor Riaz Ahmed said he had been monitoring the route for half an hour near his home and had not seen any cyclists.

“We have spent a large amount of public money – taxpayers’ money – which I think is a waste,” he said.

“In places like Oxford and Cambridge, people will cycle, but when you have hills it’s not conducive to cycling.”

WYCA said since the Tour de France it had also given more than 650 bikes to people in need and funded more than 120 organizations to help people cycle and walk.