PEOPLE are able to travel safely without the use of a car between Wimborne and Ferndown thanks to the creation of a new route.
A new cycling, wheeling and walking route has been created in the seven-mile stretch from Wimborne to Trickett’s Cross in Ferndown.
The new route will make enable more people to cycle, walk or catch the bus, reducing road congestion, especially during rush hours, and improving health.
The off-road route provides a safe pathway for getting to work, school, the shops or for leisure. It also links to new residential areas and community facilities.
With around 5,000 people commuting daily to the Ferndown Industrial Estate and the three schools, the route offers a realistic alternative to travelling by car.
This route, funded by central government’s Active Travel Fund, completes a joined-up network of routes and bus improvements between Wimborne and Ferndown and aims to significantly reduce this number of people commuting by car.
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The project saw the creation of new wide paths, including textured areas to assist the visually impaired; upgraded traffic light crossing points with modern technology to reduce wait times for road users and improve traffic flow and a resurfacing of the carriageway to reduce the need for future maintenance.
Wildflower seeds were planted on the verges, and there are new bus stop improvements with new and refurbished shelters, real-time information boards and raised kerbs for easier access.
People who have used the new path have praised the work.
Jess, who works at the nearby Heathland House Care Home, said: ““The new path has made walking and cycling to work a lot easier.
“In my spare time I also use the path to walk the dog. The wider distance between us and the road has made a huge difference to my feeling of safety.
“I am so grateful. It now makes me think twice when getting in my car to go to work or into Wimborne.”
Councillor Jon Andrews, cabinet member for place services at Dorset Council, said: “Firstly, thank you to all residents and businesses in Ferndown for their patience during the work.
“This was a big project, but one that vastly improves the experience for anyone walking, cycling or wheeling along Wimborne Road.
“We have gone from narrow and often bumpy walkways to wide and level off-road access from Wimborne to Ferndown.
“With the large centre of employment at the Ferndown Industrial Estate and three schools nearby, this offers a safe and healthy option to get around.”
The improvements are the final part of the earlier new walking, cycling and wheeling routes along Wimborne Road East and Wimborne Road West Ferndown, completed in 2023.
These were funded through central government’s Transforming Cities Fund.
It is not possible to cycle into Wimborne town centre without cycling on the road as the safe cycle path ends at Brook road. You would have to navigate the busy Quarterjack roundabout
I’m sorry but the notion you can travel between Ferndown and Wimborne off road is utter rubbish. The so called cycle lanes/paths have been installed (at great inconvenience and misery, not to mention expense to the locals) only in places where the road used to be wide. They have taken over the old pavements and stolen a lot of the road, making the road narrower and more dangerous plus eliminating most bus stop lay-bys so the buses have to stop on the main road. But the most annoying part is that where the road starts to get tricky and dangerous, past Brooke Road into Wimborne, then there was not any space to put these and so it ended. So where it was relatively safe for cyclists before, they now are even safer, but where it was dangerous for cyclists before is still dangerous for cyclists. They are also very much under utilised, not really surprising when you consider the demographics of the area.