A new £9m cycleway made up of largely segregated paths could be built between the city centre and south Manchester.

The plan, spearheaded by the region’s cycling tsar Chris Boardman, is for an Oxford-Road style bike and pedestrian route from Chorlton Park to Manchester.

Subject to consultation, the proposed 5km course would run along Barlow Moor Road, Manchester Road, Upper Chorlton Road and Chorlton Road, linking with existing cycleways and on to the city centre. This is already one of the busiest cycling routes in Greater Manchester. Other successful cycling cities like Amsterdam and Copenhagen will be used for inspiration.

It will include better waiting spaces for cyclists at junctions and cycle lanes running behind parking bays where possible.

Proposed route of Chorlton cyclepath View fullscreen

The proposal also features improvements to crossing points for both cyclists and pedestrians.

Mr Boardman revealed last year his plan to create ‘hundreds’ of cycle lanes across Greater Manchester that were safe enough for 12-year-olds.

And now, working with Manchester and Trafford councils, he’s secured £3.9m government funding to make a start - with the hope of raising ‘around £5m’ more.

This will, he says, allow for a better cycle path than initially intended, with major junction redesigns plus cycle-friendly changes to 60 side roads.

(Image: Manchester Evening News)

It’s hoped that by making the roads more cycle-friendly, two-wheel travel will be boosted - as it has been after improvements on Oxford Road and Wilmslow Road.

A consultation this summer will allow residents, local businesses and other interested parties to have their say on the new Chorlton Park to Manchester proposals.

Olympic gold medallist Mr Boardman said such a route could be a ‘game-changer’ for getting more people out of their cars on schools runs, work trips and leisure outings.

He said the new lanes could make these journeys a ‘pleasure not a chore’, adding: “I can’t praise Manchester City Council highly enough for helping us set the bar high and aiming to bring forward a truly inspiring scheme. I look forward to working with councils across Greater Manchester to bring forward similarly ambitious projects.”

(Image: Google)

Coun Angeliki Stogia, executive member for the environment and skills, said their goal was to make cycling safer and more accessible for as many residents as possible, adding: “Working closely with Chris Boardman and TfGM, we’ve identified the opportunity to secure further funding to allow the scope of the scheme to be widened. This would be a huge boost to our efforts to make cycling part of our culture - encouraging more residents to choose to cycle to their schools, shops, work and leisure, while also helping to reduce levels of noise pollution and improve air quality.”

Boosting cycling facilities in Greater Manchester is part of mayor Andy Burnham’s plan to tackle congestion - with a major plan to reduce traffic jams soon to be unveiled.

Currently, just two per cent of commuters cycle to work, compared to Copenhagen’s 40pc.