New plans to install cycle lanes on Gloucester Road have been revealed – prompting a fierce debate among Bristol Live readers over cycling infrastructure, mass transit and the state of the road
Charity shops on Gloucester Road (March 10, 2026) – Cancer Research(Image: Paul Gillis/Reach Plc)
Bristol Live readers have been discussing the latest proposals for new cycle lanes on Gloucester Road. Many highlighted incomplete projects and poor road conditions. Others debated mass transit options, weighing up trams and an overground network against an underground system that some believe is prohibitively expensive. Parking provision and road funding were also prominent topics.
Proposals for new cycle lanes along Gloucester Road were “set to one side” for years amid discussions about constructing a Bristol underground network. The signature policy of the city’s former Labour mayor involved creating a mass transit system with underground railway sections.
This was never realised because Marvin Rees, now “Baron Rees of Easton “, was unable to persuade other politicians to support his vision. One of the proposed routes would have run along Gloucester Road, a key commuter corridor and shopping thoroughfare stretching from the city centre to north Bristol.
The former mayor initially suggested the underground concept in 2017, which ultimately stalled and was rejected in 2023. During this period, transport planners at Bristol City Council held back from installing any cycle lanes along Gloucester Road – amongst the city’s busiest cycling routes – concerned they might need to excavate the road subsequently to construct an underground tunnel. However, discussions are set to begin regarding the future of the route, involving the council and the West of England Combined Authority.
Councillors on the transport policy committee received an update on Gloucester Road on Thursday, 14 May, as part of broader investment in the roads surrounding the new indoor arena under construction on the former Filton Airfield site.
This is what our readers had to say, with Td21 commenting: “Please complete the current roadworks first before starting another project.”
Frankyfrank writes: “Go to Bordeaux, use their public transport (tram), come back, dig it all up and build what they have with no private capital involved.”
Bumblebee states: “The worst road I have ever driven on.”
Xercesblue12 says: “There are other (overground) mass transit options than an underground, which would reportedly cost up to £18 billion, many times more than the £752 million transport funding received by WECA for a five-year period. BCC (and WECA) should be planning a layout NOW for an overground mass transit system for the city.”
Gmtruk thinks: “None of it will ever be built, but there will be lots of lucrative feasibility studies.”
Paul258 writes: “Put the bike lanes underground.”
Shallow Mal says: “Bristol Council et al, just stop thinking about the crazy underground plans for Bristol. The billions of pounds & disruption involved would never ever be worthwhile or recovered.”
Magrathean feels: “Any shoppers or business owners value car parking along Gloucester Road? Start saying your goodbyes.”
Dbullen writes: “Sorry, but car drivers pay tax for use of the highway. When are the greens going to introduce taxation for bikes, seeing as those who suffer most are actually those who pay the bills for road use? Also, before making these cycle lanes, how about making the road surfaces safer for all vehicles on our roads, which would guarantee making our roads safer to be on.”
Table For Two asks: “What is this fixation with digging an underground, which will never happen because it is too expensive. We need to reinstate the electric trams that covered our City before the war. These ran up all the main roads and meant that there was a reliable and cheap form of mass transit which doesn’t require the digging of tunnels. It’s utterly ridiculous to suggest this as 1) it will never happen & 2) it will never happen.”
Chopsee says: “It takes 3 months to paint new lines ! Underground Network, give it a break.”
Bluemorpho11 feels: “Lessons have been learnt from the ludicrously large consultancy fees of the Rees and Norris era, but Bristol, as a core UK city, must have a 21st century vision for its transport and trams and/or other overground mass transit systems cannot but be part of this.”
Do you think that these plans will be implented? Comment below or HERE to have your say.