CYCLISTS have welcomed plans to share space in a central Oxford street with pedestrians and vehicles — despite the loss of a marked section of a national cycle path.

Work on a £625,000 scheme to create the shared space for all road users started yesterday, in New Inn Hall Street.

The resurfacing project will take 20 weeks and is designed to encourage vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists to be courteous and give way to each other.

As a result, the national cycleway running along New Inn Hall Street will no longer be painted on to the road.

James Styring, chairman of cycling campaign group Cyclox, said: “There’s a national cycle route going through New Inn Hall Street and although it will no longer be marked out, we’re still supporting the shared space idea.

“Last year, we visited Cambridge and saw how shared space projects were working in a number of different areas.

“Until now, conflicts have arisen in New Inn Hall Street because you get cyclists shouting at pedestrians when pedestrians stray on to the cycle path.

“With shared space, different user groups tend to go more slowly and they are less territorial once the boundaries are removed.

“Cyclists will no longer think they have a right of way and can go as fast as they like.”

Mr Styring said if the shared space idea worked in New Inn Hall Street, it could also be tried in other city centre streets, including Queen Street.

Oxfordshire County Council is planning to make life easier for pedestrians this summer by removing a number of bus stops from Queen Street, as part of its Transform Oxford proposals, unveiled last year.

Paul Cullen, a spokesman for Oxford Pedestrians’ Association, said: “Until now, drivers have assumed a priority over pedestrians, so we welcome the shared space plan. New Inn Hall Street could be a test run for shared space in other Oxford streets.”

Sally Emery, a spokesman for the West End Partnership, said: “The decision has been taken to transform New Inn Hall Street into a shared space.

“This type of scheme has been successful in other parts of the UK and across the world, encouraging road users to be more cautious and therefore establishing better conditions for everybody.

“The inclusion of a cycle lane may give the impression to cyclists that they have particular rights over part of the street.

“This could result in speeds and behaviour of cyclists that leave pedestrians in particular feeling vulnerable and uncomfortable as they walk through the area.

“A shared space, by its nature, obliges everyone to consider others.”

Although the full width of the street, including pavements, will be at the same level, the pavement areas will still be clearly marked.

The county council, which is planning to pedestrianise more of the city centre as part of the Transform Oxford project, is providing £125,000 towards the work, while the West End Partnership is contributing £500,000.

affrench@oxfordmail.co.uk