Cycling scheme needs reviewing in light of issues

IN the Daily Mail on Saturday, a two-page article highlighted the problems many local authorities are experiencing after rushing to implement the Department for Transport’s “preference to cyclist and pedestrian” scheme that Hull City Council began implementing in July.

The article lists a number of local authorities already abandoning the scheme after investing considerable sums of money as it is unworkable and not producing the results they expected.

The main complaints are the very same that I and many others have raised in Hull and the East Riding Mail since the scheme was introduced in Hull:

■ ■ Bad planning with little or no consultation.

■ ■Very few cyclists using the cycle lanes, many still riding on the pavement.

■Motorists stuck in traffic jams, taking much longer to get anywhere.

■Exhaust fumes caused by vehicles stuck in these traffic jams.

The article in the national paper isn’t the first about the Government’s funded scheme, similar articles have also appeared in the Sunday papers over the past few weeks.

Readers of the Hull and East Riding Mail will also be familiar with the many articles and letters on the subject.

Grant Shapps, the Transport Minister, has written to local authorities reminding them that he may withdraw future funding if local schemes are hurried through without consultation with residents and for not being beneficial to everyone.

Was anyone in Hull consulted before work was started on bus/ cycle lanes, etc?

Daren Hale has said that Hull’s scheme will be reviewed after a six-month period before a decision is made on whether to make it permanent.

Come on now, Daren, you can’t expect the people of Hull to believe that it won’t be made permanent after all the work that’s gone into it.

In view of the many local authorities abandoning the scheme, I suggest Hull’s scheme is reviewed as soon as possible, never mind after six months, before any more money is spent.