Parked cars are a bigger issue than cycle lanes

ARTHUR Bedford has concerns that the A4 cycle lanes may impede the flow of emergency vehicles (Newbury Weekly News, January 21).

Surely the traffic modellers would have consulted on this issue and worked with the services in the

planning process?

Unless Arthur is an expert it would be useful to hear first- hand experience. The most disappointing aspect of Arthur’s letter is the usual rant about cyclists being arrogant and not having road safety knowledge.

Can we please move on from this repeated bias and prejudice on the letters page regarding a person’s mode of transport. Irresponsibility lies with the person, not the vehicle.

I am a regular motorist and cyclist around Newbury, and the near-death motorist encounters on my bike are all too frequent.

Usually, it is people driving parallel on my right who try to turn left ‘through’ me as though I didn’t exist.

Remonstration (sadly) often produces an angry face at the wound-down window with opinions about ‘you cyclists’.

Pointing out I am primarily a motorist doesn’t seem to help.

I have personally found the A4 lanes are very useful for bike journeys, and I have seen many families with kids on the segregated section towards Newbury.

The alternative to proper dedicated lanes is illustrated by the accompanying photo.

It shows the status quo – lines of parked cars that spend most of their time as a static traffic obstruction in the road.

I wouldn’t advise my kids or loved ones to use the pictured lane.

Surely negotiating groups of parked cars is a much greater problem for vehicle flow (including emergency services) than cycle lanes?

Cycle lanes don’t impede a clear line of sight down the road and for this reason alone are safer for motorists than negotiating the empty cars and vans that litter the roads.

Do you see cyclists leaving their bikes unused in the carriageway 24/7?

JOHN WALLIS

Enborne Road

Newbury