Plans to make Leeds city centre ‘safer and more enjoyable’ for shoppers and visitors will be voted on by council leaders next week. 

The ‘Briggate Action Plan’ aims to make Leeds city centre more eco and pedestrian friendly by widening pavements, improving cycle routes, and introducing new safety measures into the area. 

A mandatory ‘dismount rule’ for bicycles and e-bikes in the Briggate area and the banning of all peddlers and unlicensed street vendors in the area are two of the measures being proposed.

Councillor Jonathan Pryor, Leeds City Council’s deputy leader and executive member for economy, transport, and sustainable development, said: “We’re proud Leeds is home to one of the region’s busiest and most vibrant shopping and leisure destinations.

“These proposals are designed to be a starting point and an important opportunity to bring about some changes in the city centre in light of issues the public have raised with us.”

The action plan comes in response to a survey conducted by the Council last year, in which 61% of people thought that bikes and e-bikes were a major issue in Leeds city centre. 

Similarly, 50% of residents said that street peddlers and vendors negatively impacted their shopping experiences in the city. 

An estimated 1100 e-bikes are thought to travel up and down Briggate every day, many of which can travel at speeds of up to 45mph. 

A number of residents are becoming increasingly concerned by the rise in e-bike usage around Leeds city centre.

Jennifer Helm, aged 88, from Bradford, visits Leeds weekly. She said: “I see them racing by every time I’m in town, I think a lot of them deliver food and takeaways.

“They go far too fast and are becoming dangerous, especially for elderly people and kids. I think it’s good that the council are doing something before someone gets badly hurt.”