Safe routes will attract cyclists

I was interested to see the article ‘Sort Out Our City’s Cycle Paths’ (Kentish Gazette, September 15).

The police should deal with those who endanger pedestrians by riding on pavements or the high street during the prohibited hours.

Cllr Alan Baldock is right to call for the city’s cycle paths to be sorted out.

It is also encouraging that this opinion appears to be shared right across the political spectrum.

With the planned housing and university expansions, the population of permanent residents, students and workers is set to rise significantly. Canterbury already faces severe congestion and unless we either embark on a huge road building scheme or embrace alternatives we will face gridlock.

Canterbury has a cycle commuting rate of 2.9%, this is a little better than the average for Kent but far lower than cities like Oxford with 17.6% and Cambridge with 29.9%.

It can be seen that when perceivably safe cycling infrastructure is in provided people will use it.

Although a great deal has already been achieved in Canterbury, for a modal shift to occur we need more than some additional painted cycle lanes or signage, we need direct segregated routes along prominent roads like the New Dover Road and the A28.

A good way to classify if a route is safe is to ask as a parent; would you would be happy to send your 12-yearold son or daughter out on a daily journey on it by bike unsupervised?

The Mountfield development is promising good internal cycling and walking facilities but unless there are direct, prominent and perceivably safe routes into Canterbury then the residents will not cycle.

There are currently no safe means to cross the A28 on a bike at Burgate, St George’s, Riding Gate or Wincheap roundabouts, as a consequence cycles are regularly seen on the pavements.

Regardless of how good the Mountfield and other developments are for cycling internally they will still add cars to our roads, so the improvements they bring need to also enable Canterbury’s existing residents to cycle.

Not everyone can cycle or even wants to cycle, no one should be forced to, but it has been shown that many want to but are put off by road conditions and lack of safe routes.

This modal shift is also of benefit to people who don’t ride bikes as the roads are less congested, pollution is lowered, and space used for parking can be prioritised for drivers with disabilities or those who need a car for their work or other commitments.

If developers are prepared to make large contributions for the new the A2 junction then they must also be prepared to make similar contributions to safe cycle routes.

I hope that Canterbury City Council is able to make full use of section 106 and the Community Infrastructure Levy policy to ensure developers fully contribute to the transportation modal shift required to support their development. Matt Banbury Hawk Close, Whitstable