Cycling Into Dorchester—Progress on Safe Routes

This article is part of our Q&A series and follows the Stakeholder Panel at the Community Association of Poundbury AGM on 21 May 2025. We are grateful to all the panel members and to our members who submitted questions in advance.

The question asked was: What plans are there to develop safe cycling routes connecting Poundbury to central Dorchester?

The desire for a safe, dedicated cycling route between Poundbury and Dorchester town centre is one that comes up time and again in our community conversations. It's a logical question since Poundbury was designed with pedestrian and cycling activity in mind. And yet the link to the town centre remains a challenge. At the AGM, both Dorset Council and Dorchester Town Council provided an update on where things stand.

Why is it so difficult?

Councillor Richard Biggs explained that the primary obstacle is the existing layout of the main road corridors between Poundbury and Dorchester. Residential car parking requirements along these routes add difficulty to carving out a dedicated and safe cycling lane without significant redesign.

Recent progress

There is progress, however. The recent junction improvement works at Williams Avenue, Bridport Road and Damers Road were designed with potential cycle routes in mind, meaning that even though a dedicated route from Poundbury into the town centre is not yet in place, the groundwork for one is being laid. 

The broader policy picture

Cycling provision for this corridor is referenced in Dorset Council's Active Transport Infrastructure Plan (ATIP). While the current ATIP does not yet contain a detailed specification for this particular route, the Dorchester Transport Action Group (DTAG) submitted a three-phase proposal to Dorset Council in 2025 for inclusion in the Local Transport Plan (LTP) 2026–2041. The consultation on the LTP closed in October 2025, and the new plan is expected to be finalised during 2026.

What can residents and workers here do?

Advocacy matters. The more clearly and consistently residents and local workers express their desire for safe cycling infrastructure, the more weight it carries in transport planning decisions. If you are not already familiar with the Dorchester Transport Action Group and their work, their proposals are publicly available and worth reading.

Your questions shape our Community

Have a question about life in Poundbury? Email us at info@lovepoundbury.org and it could feature at the next General Meeting.

This answer has been added to the FAQ section of our website, which includes many other questions and answers as well. 

Thank you to Councillor Richard Biggs for fact-checking this article.