Complaints have piled in against a planned multi-million-pound cycle lane project in Reading.
Proposals have been devised by Reading Borough Council to improve cycling facilities in Bath Road and Castle Hill after it received a total of £2.3 million from the previous Conservative government.
Part of the project involves the removal of six to seven permit holder parking bays in Castle Hill and a stretch of bus lane between Haden Square and the Bath Road water tower.
The designs will be put to the public after councillors agreed to begin a statutory consultation at a meeting of its traffic management sub-committee on September 10.
The proposal has already received some opposition, with people claiming that cyclists do not use existing lanes.
Shahid Manzoor: “There are so many cycle lanes, but they don’t even use them.
“They [cyclists] are still in front of the cars or wiggling through traffic, and when something goes wrong, they say, ‘Oh, it’s the driver’s fault.”
Dave Powell made a joke about Shergar, the thoroughbred racehorse that was stolen and killed by the Irish Republican Army.
He quipped: “You’re more likely to spot Shergar in a cycle lane than a cyclist.”
Debbie Viney said: “In the 10 years I’ve been travelling from the M4 to Queens Road, I’ve seen approximately five cyclists using Sidmouth Street.”
George French added: “More cycle lanes that are rarely used by those who campaign for them. Just look at the ones by the university in Shinfield Road.”
There was also a complaint that bus drivers do not use the lanes provided for them either.
John Alleyne said: “Planning at its best, spend, spend, spend, it will be like the bus lanes on the A33 that don’t get used.”
Whether existing infrastructure is being used at expected levels would require traffic, bus passenger or cycle count data.
Several commenters did defend the initiative to create safer routes for cyclists.
Andy Edwards said: “Complaining that a lack of cyclists is a reason for not building a cycle lane is like saying a bridge isn’t needed as no one crosses the river at that point.
Paul Reynold said: “Good! More cycling means fewer cars and less congestion (and pollution), which is better for everyone – including drivers. It’s really very simple.”
Meanwhile, Simon Hunt lamented the cycling facilities in Reading in comparison to those in Europe.
He said: “I do a lot of cycling in Slovakia and over there cycleways are very well designed as they are across mainland Europe.
“They are such a joy to ride on, I come back here and I just despair.
“Not only are there very few nice safe places to ride we also feel we’re in the way all the time.
“A lot of us feel loathed and despised by motorists and pedestrians alike.”
In a lighthearted comment, Peter Neville said: “A safer cycle route to the Nags Head has to be welcomed.”
Once it is published, the public can respond to the consultation on the Go Vocal website.
