‘these box bikes are just a brilliant step’

The box bike boom could be a hot topic at the first meeting of a new sustainable transport forum.

Representatives from Spokes, Network Rail and Stagecoach sit on the group, which was formed to investigate ways to cut car usage across the district

Labour leader Cllr Alan Baldock said: “The whole idea of the forum is to encourage people to think very differently about their commute. It’s what we’ve been calling for and these box bikes are just a brilliant step that joins that journey.

“They should be encouraged in every way.

“But the priority should be getting the city’s fragmented cycle network fixed, so we Labour’s Alan Baldock and council leader Simon Cook

have routes that are in a fit state so we can criss-cross the city safely.”

Council leader Simon Cook (Con) says criticism of the authority’s stance on sustainable transport is “unfair”. He said: “The

district transport strategy that’s jointly agreed by us and KCC has an ambitious target to increase cycling to work by 2031, although it’s worth pointing out that overall responsibility lies with KCC as the highways authority. One thing worth pointing out is that the new housing developments planned have cycle routes built into them and in most cases they’re separate from the roads.

“Those in the south Canterbury development look like they will finally allow people to cycle into Canterbury from the villages to the south without having to negotiate high-speed roads, including the children going to school there.

“Speaking as a dad of a daughter who’s shortly going to move to secondary school, I’d love her to be able to cycle there.

“This new cycle infrastructure will allow her to do so safely.”