A NUMBER of traffic measures are coming into force in Trafford to encourage people to walk and cycle during the Covid outbreak and beyond.

The measures are being considered and introduced in all 10 of the Greater Manchester boroughs and include footpath extensions, new one-way streets, closing roads to traffic and new cycle lanes.

The city-region’s council leaders have come together to enhance the area’s provision for pedestrians and cyclists to help people maintain social distancing when making essential journeys and taking exercise during the lockdown and in its aftermath.

There has been a dramatic fall in traffic volumes across Greater Manchester since the lockdown began – with an almost 60pc reduction in the city-region.

Walking and cycling now make up around a third of all journeys in the area, with cycling up 22 per cent compared to pre-lockdown levels.

These trends have led to congestion almost being eliminated across Greater Manchester and a significant drop in pollution levels too.

Greater Manchester councils are hoping that, by encouraging the use of sustainable modes of transport now, the impact of higher levels of walking and cycling will continue to benefit the area after lockdown is over with the aim of the city becoming carbon neutral by 2038.

Changes on the cards for Trafford include introducing temporary social distancing measures across the borough.

Sites where temporary changes are being considered are:

Flixton Road, Urmston, outside Malcolm’s Pharmacy

Station Road, Urmston, outside Whittaker’s Fish & Chips and Pinocchio’s Takeaway.

A5145 Edge Lane, Stretford, between A56 Chester Road and Kings Road. The measures will be located in both directions.

Old Hall Lane, Sale Moor, between B5397 Dane Road and the bus stop lay-by near Wythenshawe Road. This measure will only be in the south-west bound direction.

A5145 Edge Lane, Stretford, between Kings Road and Cromwell Road (at the entrance to Longford Park). This measure will only be achievable in the east bound direction.

Locations for long term options include the A56 between Sale and Stretford both Northbound and Southbound.

Coun Steve Adshead, Trafford Council’s executive member for environment, said: “Trafford Council is considering introducing a number of temporary schemes aimed at helping people social distance during the lockdown.

“We are really pleased to be able to play our part in this vitally important scheme. The health and well-being of Trafford residents is always our number one priority and we will do everything we can to make sure people are safe during this pandemic.”

To support these kinds of initiatives across Greater Manchester, the city-region’s new Safe Streets Save Lives campaign has been launched and got a boost of £5 million from the Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham’s Walking and Cycling Fund.

The measures have been labelled as “emergency changes” by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.

To further support the plan, Andy Burnham wrote to the Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps, asking him to enable local highway authorities to utilise new measures immediately.

Mr Burnham said: “Greater Manchester has been leading the way with our plans to build the largest walking and cycling network in the UK. A number of cities around the world have begun implementing measures to enable safe essential travel and exercise during lockdown. As part of our efforts, we’re taking the same, bold approach – safe streets really do save lives.

“Peoples’ travel behaviour across our city region has transformed during lockdown. As more people turn to walking and cycling, we want that to continue as we move into life beyond lockdown.

“Whatever peoples’ motivation – these choices are contributing to cleaning up our city’s air and causing less congestion on our roads, and that’s something we must sustain for the immediate future.”

Chris Boardman, Greater Manchester’s cycling and walking commissioner, said: “Like any successful response to a crisis, people must be the priority. During lockdown more and more residents across Greater Manchester are turning to walking and cycling for essential journeys and exercise. So, in order give people the space they need to keep safe, the only real question was ‘how soon can we act?’

“If we don’t take steps to enable people to keep travelling actively, we risk a huge spike in car use as measures are eased. Not only is it the right thing to do to protect people now, but it’s vital to meet our clean air goals and protect our NHS long term.”

Local authorities have prioritised schemes that sit within the Mayor’s Cycling and Walking Challenge Fund and can be used as coronavirus response measures, with Transport for Greater Manchester providing support to help design and implement the measures across the districts.

Once approved, a list of the Safe Streets Save Lives schemes will be listed on TfGM’s website at: https://tfgm.com/safestreets with further information available via the local authorities.