# Cycle into the future: What will our cities look like?
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2017-04-22
Category: LIFESTYLE
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/lifestyle
Meta Title: The Future of Urban Cycling Infrastructure in UK Cities
Meta Description: Discover Ribble Cycles' innovative concept designs for safer, greener, cycle-friendly urban areas in Manchester and London. Take a peek into the future of
URL: https://financedigest.com/cycle-into-the-future-what-will-our-cities-look-likehtml

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- **Ribble Cycles predict what cycling infrastructure will look like in the biggest cities around the UK**
- **Exciting concepts show how two of the UK’s biggest cities could look in the near future if the government put sustainable travel and infrastructure first**

If governments and local councils worked together to plan a safer, cycle-first infrastructure in two of the UK’s largest cities, what would it look like? New research has the answer.

Ribble Cycles has collaborated with an expert panel of university lecturers, [transport planning](https://www.financedigest.com/plan-to-improve-german-rail-transport-may-worsen-congestion-industry-warns.html "Plan to improve German rail transport may worsen congestion, industry warns") consultants and regional directors to transform two iconic city centre areas into visions of a safer, greener, cycle-friendly future.

Choosing Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester, and Waterloo, London, Ribble Cycles has created unique concept designs revealing how these two areas could adapt their infrastructure in the [near future](https://www.financedigest.com/hyperkalaemia-treatment-market-sale-will-apprehended-to-see-impressive-growth-in-near-future.html "Hyperkalaemia Treatment Market Sale Will Apprehended To See Impressive Growth In Near Future") to improve urban cycling.

Based on existing examples from around the world and a host of modern tech, these [future cities are designed to ignite the debate currently](https://www.financedigest.com/shelf-stable-soup-market-2022-outlook-current-and-future-industry-landscape-analysis-2028.html "Shelf-stable Soup Market 2022 Outlook, Current and Future Industry Landscape Analysis 2028") surrounding urban cycling and inner city planning.

Despite figures showing that as many as 23 million cycle journeys occur each [year in London](https://www.financedigest.com/london-takes-aim-at-new-york-with-five-year-financial-plan.html "London takes aim at New York with five-year financial plan"), only small tweaks have been made to the cities infrastructure. To improve both commuter transit speeds and inner city congestion issues, Ribble Cycles and its expert panel, have suggested exciting concepts including elevated cycle lanes, solar roads, automated underground bike storage and suspended cycling paths.

![Cycle into the future: What will our cities look like?2](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/2-9-1736843923542-compressed.jpg)

Helping London reduce its reliance on [fossil fuels](https://www.financedigest.com/stellantis-wont-race-to-split-electric-vehicles-from-fossil-fuel-cars.html "Stellantis won’t race to split electric vehicles from fossil fuel cars"), the introduction of solar roads will help to reduce the UK’s carbon footprint, whilst also saving the City of London money\*.

Ribble Cycles also predict an elevated superhighway for the capital. This will run across Waterloo Bridge, [allowing cyclists easy access across the River Thames to areas](https://www.financedigest.com/soccer-standing-areas-at-premier-league-grounds-to-be-allowed-from-january.html "Soccer-Standing areas at Premier League grounds to be allowed from January") such as South Bank, Westminster and Covent Garden.

Another key feature of the designs is automated bike storage, aimed at [reducing the amount of congestion associated](https://www.financedigest.com/white-bullets-collaboration-with-polands-sygnal-association-significantly-reduces-ad-funded-piracy-in-key-european-market.html "White Bullet’s collaboration with Poland’s Sygnał Association significantly reduces ad-funded piracy in key European market") with traditional storage methods in both London and Manchester. This particular addition was suggested by Transport Planning Consultant, Adrian Lord, who argued that storage [systems should have “minimal human involvement”](https://www.financedigest.com/tesla-reports-two-new-fatal-crashes-involving-driver-assistance-systems.html "Tesla reports two new fatal crashes involving driver assistance systems"), similar to those already in place in Tokyo.

Expert panellist John Parkin, Professor of Transport Engineering at the University of West England, said: “We need to create an environment that’s pleasant and different \[…\] using touch and feel [materials while encouraging public art to create](https://www.financedigest.com/tire-materials-market-to-create-an-incremental-opportunity-of-us-99-99-bn-by-the-end-of-2028-fmi.html "Tire Materials Market to create an incremental opportunity of US$ 99.99 Bn by the end of 2028 – FMI") an identity and culture.

The futuristic designs put this recommendation into action and foresee the dimly lit walkways, currently running through Piccadilly Gardens, being transformed and stitched together by a series of elevated, two-way cycle lanes with illuminated pathways. Each path would be made using modern, eco-friendly materials, including [solar panels](https://www.financedigest.com/solar-panel-mounting-structures-market-expectations-growth-trends-highlighted-until-2031.html "Solar Panel Mounting Structures Market Expectations & Growth Trends Highlighted Until 2031"), which power the lights that give this area its iconic, futuristic feel.

Graham Titchener, Regional Director at York City Council argued that “direct routes” and “segregated cycle lanes” should take centre stage during any [future discussions in relation to cycling infrastructure](https://www.financedigest.com/brighter-financial-futures-will-be-powered-by-better-infrastructure.html "Brighter financial futures will be powered by better infrastructure"). This observation [inspired the introduction of a solar panel super highway to cycling of the future](https://www.financedigest.com/shane-warne-the-great-who-revived-a-fading-art-and-inspired-future-leg-spinners.html "Shane Warne: the great who revived a fading art and inspired future leg spinners") in Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester. Not only will this shorten the length of [time it takes cyclists to move](https://www.financedigest.com/move-over-tina-its-time-for-tara-2.html "Move over TINA, it’s time for TARA") from one end of Piccadilly Gardens to the other, it will also help to keep them safe away from tram lines, turning buses and other forms of heavy traffic.

Matthew Lawson, [Chief Marketing Officer](https://www.financedigest.com/the-new-role-of-the-cfo-the-de-facto-chief-growth-officer.html "The New Role of the CFO: The De Facto Chief Growth Officer"), at Ribble Cycles said: “In our vision of the future we see cycling in city centres being made safer, easier and ultimately more appealing. These new concepts have taken into account any issues cyclists are [currently facing](https://www.financedigest.com/peel-off-face-mask-market-2022-outlook-current-and-future-industry-landscape-analysis-2029.html "Peel off Face Mask Market 2022 Outlook, Current and Future Industry Landscape Analysis 2029") in these popular areas and aim to improve their overall cycling experience on a daily basis.

“Although some of the designs may look farfetched, the fact that a number of these features already exist throughout the world already helps to paint a more realistic picture of what could be.”

“We hope these designs provide a thought provoking glimpse into the future and will encourage more people to get on their bikes, creating a healthier future for people and the planet.”

To see the futuristic designs and for more detail, please visit [http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/cycle-cities/](http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/cycle-cities/)


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