City of York Council have launched a consultation on a scheme to improve bus journeys into and across the city centre, but which will also bring huge benefits to those who cycle, or wish they could cycle, from Clifford Street right through the Micklegate area.

The Rougier Route proposals will introduce a bus-gate on a 90m stretch of Micklegate between the junctions with George Hudson Street (Pop World) and North Street (Sainsburys), allowing only buses, cycles, and emergency vehicles to pass between these two junctions. 

All other streets in the Micklegate area will be fully accessible to all road users at all times of day around a new one-way route for motor traffic up Tanner Row and down Micklegate. A contraflow cycle track will allow cyclists to travel in both directions on both streets.

The consultation closes on Monday the 12th January 2026.

How to Respond

You can respond to the consultation online on the council’s ‘Our Big Conversation‘ site, and you don’t need to create an account to do so and the survey’s anonymous – you just have to agree to a privacy policy and submit your postcode. Depending on how detailed you go in your written answers, the consultation takes around  10 to 20 minutes to complete. If you can’t complete your response in one go you can take a break at any time by getting a unique return link sent to your email – just be sure to return before the deadline.

You’ll be asked some questions on your general perception of traffic in York, your bus use, and what would make you consider moving away from using a car in the city, before being asked questions on the scheme. Feel free to answer these how you like, but the campaign is recommending these answers to specific questions for the following reasons…

Question 15: How do you feel the Rougier Route bus priority measures should operate?

☒ Only buses, cycles, and emergency vehicles can use the roads
☐ Taxis can also use the roads (as well as buses, cycles and emergency vehicles)

According to CoYC data, 18% of motor vehicles along the Rougier Route are taxis, which are the second greatest user group after private motor vehicles, so not including them in the prohibition would work against the aims of changes being made.

The restrictions referred to in the question are through the bus gate between George Hudson Street and North Street. All modes of traffic will be able to access and drive any other street in the area, using the one-way system via Rougier Street or Skeldergate depending which side of the bus gate their destination is.

Question 16: What times do you think the bus priority measures should operate?

☒ 24 hours a day, seven days a week
☐ Between 8am and 6pm
☐ Other timings

Having restrictions run all day, every day, introduces a simplicity to the scheme which will see greater compliance and avoid motorists incorrectly using the corridor due to confusion on operating hours or pushing the limits at the start and end. It also means that cyclists will know the route is safe to use regardless of time of day.

Question 19: Longer term, we have ambitions to bring 20mph speed limits onto this corridor.

☒ Yes, I would support this
☐ I would maybe support this
☐ No, I would not support this
☐ Don’t know

Vehicle speeds in this part of the city are generally low due to the nature of the streets. However imposing a 20mph speed limit will assist in increasing safety for vulnerable road users without making significant issues to the travel times of motorists.

Question 20: Do you have any comments about making Toft Green and Micklegate a one way loop (with cycle contra-flow)?

When completing this written question we recommend writing in favour of the one-way loop and cycle contraflow as it will allow any road user to access all parts of Micklegate whilst improving safety for cyclists. You may also wish to make reference to the below points which the campaign will be putting forward in its submission. 

1. The cycle contraflow needs to be implemented with at least the levels of segregation currently shown in the proposals.
2. The introduction of a 20mph limit on Micklegate and Toft Green will make the contra-flow safer where it runs as mandatory/advisory cycle lanes. You can use this opportunity to say that the 20mph limit should be part of the trial, not an afterthought for a future administration!  
3. The design of the contraflow needs to make sure it’s clear to pedestrians to look for cyclists coming from the opposite direction to traffic.
4. Repairs need to be made to the Micklegate Cobbles to make sure that the proposed cycle lane going up the hill is safe to cycle on.
5. The one way which is proposed to be introduced between Fetter Lane, Bishophill Senior and Bishophill Junior needs to accommodate cyclists in a contra-flow.

Please do take time to incorporate these alongside your own answers and in your own words, as multiple identical submissions based on copied responses won’t be valued as highly during the reviewing process. 

The more cycle campaign members respond, the stronger the case for the proposed changes to bring huge benefits for cyclists accessing the city centre alongside the targeted bus journey improvements. That’s why we’re asking each and every one of our members to take as little as 10 minutes over the next few weeks to respond in favour of the proposals.

Remember to finish and submit your response by Monday the 12th January 2026.