Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

A key priority for Oxfordshire County Council is to create a transport network that makes active travel the first choice for short journeys. The term ‘active travel’ includes walking, cycling and wheeling. 

This cycle route is identified in the Bicester Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP). Bicester is expanding rapidly, and the LCWIP supports the Cherwell Local Plan which sets out a development plan for the town’s anticipated population increase from 30,000 to 55,000 by 2034.

The scheme will allow better and safer routes for walking, cycling and wheeling between the town centre, Bicester Village Railway Station and the Graven Hill development.

The Oxfordshire Local Transport and Connectivity Plan aims to reduce the need for individual private car journeys, and make walking, cycling, public and shared transport the natural first choice. It has ambitious targets including: to reduce one in four car trips by 2030, to deliver a net-zero transport network by 2040, and to stop road fatalities and life changing injuries by 2050. Investment in active travel will help us achieve these targets.

The terms ‘pedestrians, wheelers and cyclists’ who ‘walk, wheel and cycle’ have been designed to include those who depend on non-motorised or low speed wheels. Examples include wheelchairs, rollators (walking frames) and mobility scooters.

Planning consent is not required for these improvement works. The work would be carried out on land within the boundaries of a road by/on the instruction of Oxfordshire County Council (as the local Highway Authority), and would not include any works that may have significant adverse effect on the environment.  

The scheme is being designed in line with LTN 1/20 Cycling Infrastructure Design to meet the standards of access and inclusion. This includes detailed standards on the layout of footways and crossing points including dropped kerbs, tactile paving (textured paving sections to indicate where a junction or crossing is to help people with visual impairments), and facilities at signalised controlled crossings (pedestrian or pedestrian/cycle crossings with crossing lights to indicate when road traffic must stop and when pedestrians should be able to cross safely).

It is really important that we hear from people about what their requirements are so we can tailor the plan where practicable to benefit most people using those routes. For example, if there's a small change that can be made that would especially help to make a crossing point also work better for people with auditory impairments, or people using rollators, then letting us know about it can help us to try and incorporate that accessibility into the plan if it is practicable.

In general, the proposed width of the proposed two-way cycleway will be 3 metres and the new footway will be 2 metres. At pinch points these widths may be reduced for short sections and/or a section of pavement may be shared-use (shared between cyclists and pedestrians). This will be where the available highway and footway widths are not statutorily safe to fit in a segregated cycle way.

Safety is the number one reason that people who otherwise might cycle choose not to. The latest national guidance on cycling schemes is clear that cyclists must be separated from the main traffic on busy roads. For the majority of the scheme there is sufficient space for cyclists to be given a cycleway separated from traffic and pedestrians.

Where shared use (between cyclists and pedestrians) sections of pavement are proposed the existing pavement will be widened to ensure there is space for all. Signs will clearly indicate to cyclists that they need to share the space with pedestrians and we will review how people use the final constructed scheme with a particular focus on safety. These wider sections will also benefit people on mobility scooters.

SEE ALSO:FAQ: What is the width of the proposed cycleway and footway?

We would especially like people living or working in or near Bicester, or regularly visiting the town to comment on our proposals by responding to our survey online or on paper, or by writing to us or speaking to us at the drop-in event. The survey questions are arranged to help people to comment on the different specific elements of the designs, so we can review and make further changes as necessary.

If you would like to know more about the project, you can contact us by email: BicesterLondonRoad@oxfordshire.gov.uk

The UK government’s Department for Transport (DfT) has allocated funding from the Active Travel Fund (Tranche 3).  Additional funding contributions have been allocated from developments in Bicester through planning agreements (S106 agreements).

The overall funding for the project is £2.7m (including £900k of S106 contributions).

The current plan is to start the construction work in autumn 2025 (if approval is given for the scheme to go ahead for construction).  These works would then finish in spring 2026. However, the precise timeline will also depend on developers' utility cabling works to supply electricity to the Graven Hill development which need to be completed in advance of this project.

Some noise and dust is inevitable during the works. The construction team will seek to reduce the disruption as far as is reasonably practical, and we apologise in advance for any inconvenience that these works cause.

We do not expect the works to disrupt emergency services from carrying out their duties. 

The final scheme is not anticipated to have any negative impact on traffic volumes or congestion. As it will deliver better, more direct and safer route opportunities for walking, wheeling and cycling, the expectation is that it may help reduce motor traffic congestion in the longer term, as more people find it easier to use active travel modes for some of their local journeys.

During the road works we will coordinate works to minimise the impact on the network as far as possible. Information signs will be erected to highlight the planned works, dates, and duration of works. We will maintain normal access and emergency access to properties during the works. Further details of proposed traffic management arrangements will be available closer to construction.

It may be necessary to remove some trees along the existing verge edge in the southern section of London Road. Precise requirements will be developed in the next stage of design - once the plan is more finalised, alongside tree surveys. Potential locations for new tree planting have also been provisionally identified. Any tree removal will be dependent on an arboricultural assessment and mitigation plan.

Due to increased train frequency, the level crossing on London Road is expected to be closed by the mid-2030s. East West Rail has been consulting on its proposals and information can be found on their website: East West Rail | Consultation 2024  

East West Rail’s current proposals are for a pedestrian and cyclist only underpass or bridge and is not proposing an underpass for motor traffic. The active travel proposals either side of the level crossing that Oxfordshire County Council is consulting on will connect with and complement whichever final option East West Rail implements, and ensure safe and convenient routes for cycling, walking and wheeling are joined up.

The county council does not have responsibility for the East West Rail consultation - please refer to the East West Rail website linked above for more information and contact details for East West Rail.

These proposals complement the proposals for active travel improvements to benefit more opportunities for safer and more direct walking, wheeling and cycling on Middleton Stoney Road in Bicester. 

To help make it easier to consider the two sets of proposals fairly, Oxfordshire County Council is consulting on the two proposals separately. The survey for Middleton Stoney Road will be available on https://letstalk.oxfordshire.gov.uk/middleton-stoney-road-cycle-improvements after 12pm on 26 February (this link will not work until after 12pm on 26 February). 

There will be a separate drop-in event for the Middleton Stoney Road active travel proposals which will be on Tuesday 4 March open from 2pm until 8pm at the John Paul II Centre, The Causeway, Bicester OX26 6AW.