Call for cycle lane changes
Calls for change after an ambulance was filmed appearing to struggle to get through traffic caused by the pop-up cycle lanes.
“If an ambulance can’t get through town with its blues on, something needs to change.”
Those were the words of a Chichester motorist, whose fiancée filmed the moment an ambulance appeared to struggle to make its way through traffic caused by Chichester’s pop-up cycle lanes over the weekend.
The temporary cycle lanes from Spitalfield Lane to the railway station have proved contentious for residents, with a petition set up urging the county council to remove the ‘complicated and confusing’ bollards.
Kain Lawrence was driving through the city when he spotted fellow motorists struggling to manoeuvre out of the way of an ambulance, travelling from the university to the Northgate Gyratory.
Kain said: “It just doesn’t work. Even if they don’t want to admit their mistake, the council can say, it’s not worked how we’ve wanted it but let’s make it better. It’s a horrific thing to happen to an ambulance. It’s an absolute mess. I was impressed that the cars managed to get out the way so quickly. There’s just nowhere for them to get easily.”
West Sussex County Council said it is holding weekly meetings with the emergency services to ‘discuss any issues they may have’ with the cycle lanes and ‘look at where any improvements need to be made’. A spokesperson said: “Naturally, we would be concerned if a popup cycleway caused an unacceptable delay for the emergency services but it appears cars were able to move out of the way and allow the ambulance through.”
South East Coast Ambulance Service confirmed it is working with the council to ‘minimise the impact’ of the cycle lanes.
A spokesperson said: “We are aware there are times when there is traffic build around the cycle lanes and would like to thank drivers for doing everything they can to help ambulances progress.” To watch the video, visit www.chichester.co.uk