Over half a million miles a year now safer and easier thanks to Rifford Road improvements – Exeter Cycling Campaign #yiv6702421679 P {margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;}Over half a million miles a year now safer and easier thanks to Rifford Road improvementsOver 1,000 people a day, including over 300 children, are using the new Rifford Road separated pedestrian and cycle path and safe crossings, a new survey shows – that’s over half a million miles of safe and easy journeys on bikes, scooters, wheelchairs and mobility scooters every year.The success of the path, built in Exeter by Devon County Council over the past year, was revealed following a 12-hour count by volunteers from the Exeter Cycling Campaign on 19 June.After just three months of being fully open, results from the survey revealed: – a total of 1,190 daily journeys by foot, wheels and bike  – 404 of those were using bikes, a 50% increase over Devon County Council pre-scheme counts – 126 of the users were of older age or using mobility scooters and wheelchairs  – 5% were identifiable as NHS key workers making journeys to and from the hospital. This equates to at least about half million miles of safer, easier journeys per year. Over 100,000 children a year now have a safer route to school, to see friends, go to the shops or play in Ludwell Valley Park.The improvements, which provide access to a number of schools and other local facilities, keep people safe from traffic. They provide a key link to St Peter’s, Isca and St James Schools, to Heavitree and Whipton and towards the river and Countess Wear.  They also link up with the quiet route through St Leonards to the City Centre.James Diamond, Chair of the Exeter Cycling Campaign, said: “Travel on Rifford Road was a bit of a mess. Previously we had a pot-holed road whose design encouraged speed and risk-taking; no safe road crossings for children, visually impaired and older people, and children cycling to school faced with the choice of mixing with buses and lorries on the road or with pedestrians and mobility scooters on the uneven, neglected pavement.“It is no surprise that over the past 10 years emergency services were called to a collision each year on Rifford Road, costing hundreds of thousands pounds, causing delays, and breaking bones and ruining lives.“The Rifford Road improvements are a win-win for people using all types of transport.”Some of the design features, such as the side-road crossings and bus stops designs, are relatively new to Exeter. The Campaign is pleased that Devon County Council have used the latest design standards, continues to carefully monitor how they are settling in, and have implemented careful safety audits.  As experience grows and monitoring continues the Campaign hopes the Council will implement any further improvements needed to make the street design even more inclusive for all.   The survey found a huge diversity of people using the improved route, including mobility scooter users, cargo bikes doing the school run, nurses and doctors walking to the hospital and children scooting to the park. James added: “This path has space for pedestrians, who are kept separate from bikes and scooters, but it is also for people on mobility scooters and wheelchairs, ensuring they can also travel at their own pace away from traffic. The improvements ensure everyone has space and safety.“This was a big project and we congratulate councillors and officers at Devon County Council on their vision and on delivering such a high quality design on time and under budget. “Using Government figures we estimate that the journeys made safer and easier by the improvements are saving the public purse about £120,000 per year in reduced congestion, improved health benefits and reduced air pollution  – bringing immediate benefits as well as year-on-year savings.“We’re raring to go for the next pieces in the jigsaw: improvements to the Honiton Road crossing and better pavements, crossings and paths to Lidl, the Wonford health and leisure centres and pharmacy, and through the roundabouts on Burnthouse Lane, so even more people have the choice of safe, easy and cheap local journeys.”Ends20 June 2025Notes to editors: To interview James Diamond or another member of the Exeter Cycling Campaign, contact Lorna Devenish on 07900 162187.Photo caption: campaign volunteers worked in pairs for two hours at a time to complete the 12 hour count. Quotes from our Facebook survey:The campaign asked members for their views on the new path and the response was overwhelmingly positive:“It has totally transformed the area. Makes it safer for all modes of transport.”“It’s a fantastic missing link for my family. My teenagers both use it daily and I go that way to get into town because it links up with Dryden Road.”“I can now do a largely off-road journey to work – it’s made my journey so much safer.”“I use it every weekday. I am cautious with the right of way on the side roads. I slow down to check cars are stopping it works for me!” “Rifford Road has been hugely improved by the recent changes. It looks smarter, works better, and now has safe infrastructure for walkers, wheelers and cyclists. I use it to cross the city between Stoke Hill and Countess Wear, and I can do that journey by bike almost all the way on safe, protected lanes.”“I think it’s great much less stressful than mixing it with overtaking cars whilst trying to avoid the potholes (craters?) that were in the road – no more bone shaker rides.”“Love it, have used it several times myself as it makes cycling so much safer.”“I think they’ve done a pretty good job so far (and I look forward to the western end and roundabouts being made safe too). I certainly feel much safer on the path than before it was built. I had a 5 year old live with me for a while and his school was on Woodwater Lane, we did try to cycle there, he was perfectly capable of cycling the distance (just under 3 miles) but trying to avoid danger from cars was really tricky. This cycle lane would have made all the difference. I hope more families feel able to make car-free travel if they want to.”“I am a regular user and it is great. Previously, I remember seeing mobility scooter users having to precariously cross Rifford Road, taking risks and using the tiny pedestrian refuges. I now see mobility scooter users safely crossing Rifford Road at the new, safe crossings and using the space on the segregated cycle path to make their journey. It is so much better. The road itself has been transformed from a potholed mess whose design encouraged speed & risk taking to a calm, safer route for car drivers. 1000s of journeys made safer every day. It is a bargain.”“I found the other day, I can now get from St Davids, All the way home to heavitree, entirely off road if I go along the river and up the new rifford road link. Which is nice.”“I’ve used it several times and have found it very good. I do slow down at the junctions to check that the cars give priority but fine so far. They far end where it puts you back on the road (opp end to Honiton Road) could do with some improvements.”“I have used several times, feels much safer than the rest of my cycle journey.”“It’s brilliant. It has connected Wonford with the East side of the city. We’ve used it to get out to Pinhoe several times already. It was a definite missing piece in the jigsaw, which is now filled!”“I live in Heavitree and work in Newton Abbot. I was cycling to St David’s and hopping on the train. Coming home, I would dread impatient motorists on the long and steep St David’s Hill.“Now I can disembark at Marsh Barton railway station and take dedicated cycle paths nearly all the way home.“The route is spacious and safe, including keeping us a distance from the exhausts of vehicles stuck in traffic.“Delighted with this.” “I hope you find my feedback helpful as both a cyclist and vehicle user: I am a resident on Rifford road and I absolutely love the new cycle lane which I use a few times per week. I do find this route to be much safer than it was when previously on road.Previously I have had near misses of people just pulling out on junctions and pretending like they didn’t see a neon yellow jacket coming their way. Many times I have stopped just in time before being in someone’s car door window. The driver would greet me with one of a few reactions, stunned, angry (that it was my fault they pulled out of the minor road) or pretending like I don’t exist; fun times.The only criticism I have of the cycle lane is the give way sections. I do find these to be unsafe, I come to nearly a stop before committing to using the crossings. Personally I think part of the problem is some of the signs aren’t in the right places to be seen by a car so they are easily missed, particularly quarry lane. When driving near the junction it is very easily missed as there is a lot happening to concentrate on everything. I strongly feel it is only a matter of time until someone is hurt at this section. I do wonder if a zebra crossing might have been better?Alternatively either additional or re-location of some signs would help with instructions to a driver who is approaching the junction as it is not easy until you’re on the give-way sections.I don’t understand the negative feedback about cyclists not using the cycle lane. I very rarely see a cyclist on the road. The only time I have seen a cyclist on the road is that they are unable to cross over due to traffic during busy times.”