I am appalled to hear that more money is to be wasted on improving cycle lanes. During the last week, purely out of curiosity, I have been looking at the way cyclists use the existing lanes. In almost every case the cyclist concerned chose to ride on the pavement or the main carriageway avoiding the reserved space and I suspect this is because of the poor condition of the road surfaces where there are depressions around grids or potholes near the pavement. Instead of spending money on these little used lanes the highway authorities should be using what cash is vailable to improve the awful state of the road surfaces all over the borough!
Real cycle lanes might be good but Stockport is covered with fake ones. A short stretch of green tarmac at the widest part of a road that then disappears where the road narrows is useless and foolish and a waste of resources that could be spent on filling potholes and improving the edge of roads that force cyclists out into traffic to avoid raised grids or holes.
Jen – both are important. In general cyclists choose to ride on the pavement not because it’s a smoother ride (it isn’t – I know!) but because they see the road as too dangerous. There are many people who would cycle if they felt it was safer, and if we can get those people cycling it will make them healthier, reduce pollution, reduce congestion and lead to less wear and tear on the roads.
John – I agree that in the past cycle lanes have – with good intentions – not always been put in as they should have been. That’s why I now want to make sure we have decent, continuous safe cycle routes. Creating those isn’t cheap, but this will be very good start.
(In purely practical terms, it’s also true that the money we’re spending on “The Cheadle Project” to improve cycling could not be spent on general road repairs even if we wanted it to).
Its an offense to cycle on the pavement punishable by a £500 fine or up to £2500 for dangerous cycling. It may be surprising but 29 pedestrians have been killed by cyclists in the last 10 years – also two cyclists have been jailed for dangerous cycling for which a specific law exists – see http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-13040607
I’m surprised this has not been pointed out with a strong warning not to use the pavements, – pavements become very dangerous when cyclists are using them illegally and as I’ve just said its illegal.
In addition something needs to be done to get cyclists paying a proper price for using the roads and having registration plates so cameras can be used to prosecute illegal red light jumping and other traffic offences which many cyclists don’t seem to believe are a problem.
Also the new habit of riding two a Brest on narrow roads needs to be strongly discouraged.
Rather than spending this money on cyclists our very expensive Council Tax could (and should) have been frozen rather than the 2.5% we have had to suffer.
You’re right about cycling on pavements, and of course if we want to get the financial benefits of cycling (and there are many – not least the potential to save millions of pounds by having a healthier, fitter population), we need to give people a safe, legal way to cycle.
Investing in cycling is a really good way to cut our costs longer term – money invested correctly now will pay back many times over in the years to come.
But, to put your mind at rest, very little of the million pounds being invested here comes from Council Tax so not investing this money would not only result in you paying higher tax in years to come, but also wouldn’t make any difference to your council tax now.
I am appalled to hear that more money is to be wasted on improving cycle lanes. During the last week, purely out of curiosity, I have been looking at the way cyclists use the existing lanes. In almost every case the cyclist concerned chose to ride on the pavement or the main carriageway avoiding the reserved space and I suspect this is because of the poor condition of the road surfaces where there are depressions around grids or potholes near the pavement. Instead of spending money on these little used lanes the highway authorities should be using what cash is vailable to improve the awful state of the road surfaces all over the borough!
Real cycle lanes might be good but Stockport is covered with fake ones. A short stretch of green tarmac at the widest part of a road that then disappears where the road narrows is useless and foolish and a waste of resources that could be spent on filling potholes and improving the edge of roads that force cyclists out into traffic to avoid raised grids or holes.
Jen – both are important. In general cyclists choose to ride on the pavement not because it’s a smoother ride (it isn’t – I know!) but because they see the road as too dangerous. There are many people who would cycle if they felt it was safer, and if we can get those people cycling it will make them healthier, reduce pollution, reduce congestion and lead to less wear and tear on the roads.
John – I agree that in the past cycle lanes have – with good intentions – not always been put in as they should have been. That’s why I now want to make sure we have decent, continuous safe cycle routes. Creating those isn’t cheap, but this will be very good start.
(In purely practical terms, it’s also true that the money we’re spending on “The Cheadle Project” to improve cycling could not be spent on general road repairs even if we wanted it to).
Its an offense to cycle on the pavement punishable by a £500 fine or up to £2500 for dangerous cycling. It may be surprising but 29 pedestrians have been killed by cyclists in the last 10 years – also two cyclists have been jailed for dangerous cycling for which a specific law exists – see http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-13040607
I’m surprised this has not been pointed out with a strong warning not to use the pavements, – pavements become very dangerous when cyclists are using them illegally and as I’ve just said its illegal.
In addition something needs to be done to get cyclists paying a proper price for using the roads and having registration plates so cameras can be used to prosecute illegal red light jumping and other traffic offences which many cyclists don’t seem to believe are a problem.
Also the new habit of riding two a Brest on narrow roads needs to be strongly discouraged.
Some good news – some have been prosecuted – see http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/hundreds-fined-as-police-launch-crackdown-695182
Rather than spending this money on cyclists our very expensive Council Tax could (and should) have been frozen rather than the 2.5% we have had to suffer.
Hi Frederick,
You’re right about cycling on pavements, and of course if we want to get the financial benefits of cycling (and there are many – not least the potential to save millions of pounds by having a healthier, fitter population), we need to give people a safe, legal way to cycle.
Investing in cycling is a really good way to cut our costs longer term – money invested correctly now will pay back many times over in the years to come.
But, to put your mind at rest, very little of the million pounds being invested here comes from Council Tax so not investing this money would not only result in you paying higher tax in years to come, but also wouldn’t make any difference to your council tax now.