Reading "Cyclists ride into dawn of new era"

apreading

Cyclists ride into dawn of new era

16/10/2008
http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/s/2037480_cyclists_ride_into__dawn_of_new_era

A plan to start to join up cycle routes in Reading to give cyclists a better ride was approved by councillors.

They were told on Tuesday at the full Reading Borough Council meeting that the first-ever cycling forum, planned for last night, would herald the dawn of a new era in cycling.

Councillor Tony Page, lead member for strategy and planning, said the council would be bidding for £3 million to support a plan to address the lack of coherence in cycling routes round Reading.

He said if the council was successful in its Transport Innovation Funding Bid it would be able to spend more on cycle routes than it had spent in the last 10 years.

The plan is to use the Premier Bus Route model to fit the cycling network, using colour coding to map and sign routes.

The routes will link key destinations, have safer crossing points and secure cycle parking on arrival.

Conservative spokesman on transport Cllr Richard Willis pointed out his party had launched its own cycling strategy before the May election.

He said his party favoured separate dedicated cycle lanes.

Councillor Ricky Duveen criticised the inadequacy of the current cycling provision, including the poor security of the present square ‘Sheffield’ stands where cyclists lock their bikes and the truncated cycle routes which end suddenly leaving cyclists to negotiate busy roads.


Cllr Page said the strategy envisaged a variety of arrangements for locking up bikes but warned that the more elaborate and secure devices were expensive.

Cllr Paul Gittings pointed out the health benefits of getting more people to cycle.

But Cllr Page issued a word of warning. He said once the council had achieved improved cycle routes and a comprehensive infrastructure the present tolerance of cyclists riding on the pavements would have to end.

He cited the example of riders wheeling out of Chain Street into Broad Street without consideration of elderly pedestrians and children.

He said: “I can understand why cyclists if they cycle slowly and considerately would want to use the pavement at the moment.”

Is the council right to turn a blind eye to cyclists riding on the pavement, as it admitted this week? Click on our poll to vote or submit your comments below.

Some interesting comments and a very close vote![/url]

chuckcork

Reply to the comment about cycling on pavements having to end, would be that parking in cycle lanes would have to end as well....