Cycling Sunday ‘has a bee in its bonnet and money to burn’

IN relation to the plans for a cycle path across the Downs, there are only two real improvements needed for cycling on the Downs.

One is a continuous separated northbound cycle lane along the whole length of Stoke Road, using some of space provided by the very wide tarmac pavement, but lowered to make it clear that it is not a shared path.

The other is proper two-metre wide cycle lanes in both directions on Westbury Road, using the width that can be made available by suppressing the barely used bus lane.

Bus flows could then be speeded by bus operated traffic lights along the whole A4018, without the need to waste road width on token provision for public transport.

Circular Road is already well used by cyclists of all ages and conditions, as a route to Clifton, to access the Downs, for exercise and for taking the air. If there are problems caused by motor traffic these should be dealt with by systematic enforcement of the 20mph limit, or by closing to motor traffic in the centre so that it remains available for people driving to access the Downs, but ceases to tempt as a through route bypassing the traffic lights on the main road.

The Cycling Sunday proposals do not address any real need, would hinder cycling on Circular Road by introducing bumps in the road, create conflict between people on foot and cyclists on the new shared pavements and increase tarmac encroachment on the Downs. (‘Cycle path across the Downs ...’, 11 Aug)

Shared pavements are always unsatisfactory and are the favourite resort of local authorities who do not wish to make real provision for cycling. They also create the impression that cyclists have no place on the road, which is a strange aim for a group claiming to promote cycling.

Cycling Sunday is a classic example of an organisation with a bee in the bonnet and money to burn, or, more likely, hoping to burn public money. They are not addressing any real need for cyclists on the Downs, but have descended on the Downs as an apparently empty space to build their circus ring.

If they really wanted to improve cycling options for young people they would address the question of how to make the neighbourhoods where children live safe for children to cycle.

John Hall