Cycle lane or danger zone?

The cycle lane runs eastwards AGAINST the one-way system for traffic entering from Chapel Road, and for designated vehicles coming from the South Street precinct.

For Chapel Road vehicles, this is a "blind" right-hand bend and drivers might not expect to meet cyclists pedalling towards them in this clearly-signed one-way system.

Pedestrians now have to look both ways before stepping off Liverpool Road's northern kerb and there is the added hazard, seen this week, of vans and cars parking on the cycle lane, forcing cyclists out into the middle of the road.

The new cycle lane has been road-marked by West Sussex County Council and yesterday a spokesman defended its introduction.

"We have several contraflow cycle lanes in West Sussex and they do work well '” all are well signed and marked," he said.

"This one in Liverpool Road has been the subject of extensive consultation as part of the Worthing Cycling Strategy.

"It is the first stage of the route from the town centre to Findon, stopping at the railway station."

The spokesman said that one parking bay for the disabled had been taken out but extra bays had been provided, opposite the nearby Shopmobility centre.

Peter Green, the borough council's executive member for environmental services, told the Herald that similar contraflow systems did work in other areas.

"It depends on the goodwill of both drivers and cyclists," he said. "Both should proceed reasonably slowly."

THE new cycle lane extends just round the corner from Chapel Road to a point opposite the rear of the TK Maxx store. It is a continuation of the lane which breaks at the end of Shelley Road and is accessed via the walkway behind TK Maxx.