New data from Walk Wheel Cycle Trust shows the number of trips made by women and children along a section of the National Cycle Network in Bristol has more than doubled between 2021 and 2024.
Bristol to Bath Railway Path near to Russell Town Avenue access path, following improvements as part of the One Path BS5 project. Credit Andy Watt/Walk Wheel Cycle Trust
The increase in popularity comes after extensive work to make a 1.5 mile section of the Bristol and Bath Railway Path safer and more accessible.
The traffic-free route, which runs through the BS5 postcode area in Bristol, has seen an overall increase in walking, wheeling and cycling following improvements along the path between Clay Bottom and Trinity Street in the city.
Increases in the number of journeys on the BS5 section of the Bath and Bristol Railway Path
36%
Overall average annual increase in the number of journeys along the BS5 route
6,000
Average number of daily journeys being made, following the improvements, on one of the busiest sections of the route near Easton Community Centre
The work was part of the One Path BS5 project, a partnership between Walk Wheel Cycle Trust and Bristol City Council, which delivered a range of improvements reflecting the needs of local residents and the wider community.
These include improved junctions and access points, as well as wider and separated pathways to create a safer space for pedestrians, wheelchair users, and cyclists alike.
A series of ground markings have also been installed, along with patterns and signage which we designed in collaboration with local children.
Along one of the busiest sections of the route, near to Easton Community Centre, average annual trips by children increased from 110,000 to 230,000, with journeys made by women rising from 340,000 annually to 720,000 in the period from 2021 to 2024.
Overall, the numbers of journeys made on the path has also increased, with the route near the community centre seeing an average increase in usage from 1.5 million to 2.2 million annual trips.
