CHILDREN in North Oxford have appealed to transport bosses to extend a cycle lane they use to get to school.

The route for cyclists on the west pavement of Woodstock Road, south of Blandford Avenue, is shared with pedestrians but ends at Frenchay Road.

Now young pupils at St Aloysius Catholic Primary School have called for it to be extended at least 400 metres so they do not have to cross on to the road and ride alongside cars.

In a letter addressed to local councillors and Oxfordshire County Council, pupils in the school’s “eco council” wrote: “The cycle lane is part of the wider pavement and is marked by a white line but stops at Frenchay Road.

“We are worried because we believe this is unsafe for children coming to our school and others travelling into Oxford.

“We have walked the 400 metres from St Margaret’s Road to Frenchay Road and the pavement is still as wide as further north.

“We are asking you to propose extending the cycle pathway so all the children in our school can cycle in safety.”

They said there was a risk of “serious injury” if a child was involved in an accident along the stretch of road, where a 30mph speed limit is in place.

The children added: “We would be very grateful if you could help.”

Elizabeth Wade, Oxford city councillor for St Margaret’s, has backed their proposal with county councillor for St Margaret’s John Howson.

And Mrs Wade said they would start a petition to rally other North Oxford residents to their cause.

She added: “We want as many children as possible to cycle to school, so John Howson and I absolutely support this idea.

“We will be asking the county council to investigate how this extension could be done because it is only 400 metres.

“Ideally, we would like the council to extend the cycle path even further into town.”

In 2013 an Oxford Mail survey of 786 accidents involving cyclists across the city found Woodstock Road had the fourth highest number, with 47 between 2008 and 2012.

The road is also where 34-year-old cyclist Joanna Braithwaite died in October 2011, after a crash with a cement mixer lorry.

It has been chosen, along with Marston Ferry Road, Botley Road, Abingdon Road and Iffley Road, to become one of the county council’s “cycle super routes” providing a top-level bike route.

According to its proposed Oxford Transport Strategy, this will mean “continuous and uniform provision for cyclists travelling in both directions”, with bus lane-sharing as a minimum.

In areas where that is not possible, the authority said the speed limit would be brought down.

County council cabinet member for transport David Nimmo Smith said: “We want a joined-up approach for cyclists across the whole city, so I will certainly ask officers to look into this case."

“People can be confident that there are more improvements coming to Woodstock Road.”