Swindon Flyers
With funding from the Local Sustainable Transport Fund, we developed a network of “Flyer routes” in Swindon. This involved upgrading off road cycle routes from residential areas into Swindon town centre.
Our first flyer route ran from West Swindon into town – it’s called the Western Flyer. Following the success of the Western Flyer, we developed the Southern Flyer, linking Wichelstowe to the town centre without hills or traffic. For 2017, we completed the Eastern Flyer, which will link the New Eastern Villages with Greenbridge and the town centre.
Western Flyer
The full route of the Western Flyer follows the designated National Cycle Network Route 45 (Link) network from Mead Way – Westmead Industrial Estate – Barnfield – Iffley Road – North Star (through subways beneath Great Western Way and Hawksworth Way) – Sheppard Street.
Audits were undertaken in autumn 2011 highlighting opportunities and weaknesses of this route.
The Western Flyer is suitable for high speed commuter journeys and as well as for leisure purposes for all abilities.
Reasons for this route being chosen
- Nearly a fifth of town centre workers live in West Swindon;
- The whole route is about 2 miles long and can easily be cycled in around 15 to 20 minutes;
- Car drivers currently don’t see the “hidden” route from the road and therefore awareness of the alternative is low amongst our target audience;
- Employees driving to the town centre from West Swindon travel through congested junctions and along Great Western Way, which is identified as a strategic route into the town centre.
The works involved new lighting along the stretch from Mead Way subway to Barnfield and there has also been reconstruction of the uneven and worn sections of the path. There was a lighting upgrade in the Sheppard Street subway and the off-road cycleway/footpath running from the subway beneath Great Western Way to the end of Iffley Road was enhanced following full reconstruction. These works address a section of the route which was in poor state of repair and now includes a more user friendly junction arrangement at the Iffley Road end of the link.
This part of the route also incorporates street furniture bearing the Western Flyer logo, in the form of plinths, paviors and also timber bollards.
Download the WesternFlyer_map and leaflet with information about the route.
Southern Flyer
The 2 mile route of the Southern Flyer follows the old canal route from Farnsby Street, alongside Wootton Bassett Road and Redposts Drive to Waitrose in Middle Wichel.
The Southern Flyer is suitable for high speed commuter journeys and as well as for leisure purposes for all abilities.
Reasons for this route being chosen
- Wichelstowe is identified as a future growth area;
- The whole route is about 2 miles long and can easily be cycled in around 15 to 20 minutes;
- Car drivers currently don’t see the “hidden” route from the road (especially the old canal route) and therefore awareness of the alternative is low amongst our target audience;
- The route links in with other strategic cycle routes, such as Route 45 into West Swindon and the Old Town railway path to Old Town.
The works involved new lighting along the stretch from Farnsby Street to Wootton Bassett Road and there has also been widening and reconstruction of the uneven and worn sections of the path.
The route incorporates street furniture bearing the Southern Flyer logo, in the form of plinths, paviors and also timber bollards.
Download the Southern Flyer leaflet with a map and information about the route.
Watch our video about the route.
Eastern Flyer
The two and a half mile route of the Eastern Flyer uses quiet side streets from Whalebridge (opposite Jurys Inn) then goes around the Magic Roundabout and follows the old canal route from Queens Drive to Greenbridge. The route continues alongside Oxford Road to the White Hart roundabout.
The Eastern Flyer is suitable for high speed commuter journeys and as well as for leisure purposes for all abilities.
Reasons for this route being chosen
- The New Eastern Villages are identified as a future growth area;
- The whole route is 2.5 miles long and can easily be cycled in around 15 to 20 minutes;
- Car drivers currently don’t see the “hidden” route from the road (especially the old canal route) and therefore awareness of the alternative is low amongst our target audience;
- The route links in with other strategic cycle routes, such as Dorcan Way to Eldene, Liden, Covingham and Dorcan.
The works involved new lighting along the stretch from the Magic Roundabout to Drakes Way and there has also been widening and reconstruction of the uneven and worn sections of the path.
The route incorporates upgraded crossing points at County Road and Garrard Way, improved security, as well as street furniture bearing the Eastern Flyer logo, in the form of plinths, paviors and also timber bollards.
Download the Eastern Flyer leaflet
As well as the flyer routes, we upgraded the surfaces of the Old Town Railway Path and Kingsdown Lane in 2020, and produces guides highlighting their points of interest.
Guide to the Old Town Railway Path
The Old Town Railway Path is a 2 mile traffic free path that links Old Town to West Swindon, with exit and entry points to Okus and Wichelstowe along the way. We have compiled a guide to the path, with some historical and cultural points of interest for you to note.
You can pick up a hard copy for free at Swindon’s libraries. Alternatively you can email us with your postal address and we will send you a copy.
Or you can download the PDF copy Guide to the Old Town Railway Path.
Guide to the Kingsdown Lane area
Kingsdown lane is a 2 mile route that links Blunsdon and South Marson Industrial Estate. Although it starts off as a lightly used metalled road, it turns into a traffic free path with links into parks, woods and public footpaths along the way. We have compiled a guide to the area, with some historical and cultural points of interest for you to note.
You can pick up a hard copy for free at Swindon’s libraries. Alternatively you can email us with your postal address and we will send you a copy.
Or you can download the PDF copy of the Guide to Kingsdown_Lane
