It's all go as seafront cycle ban to be lifted in Bognor

All that remains is for Cllr Paul Wotherspoon, in charge of Arun District Council's environmental policies, to give the final go-ahead.

This could well happen in the next few weeks. His approval will allow signs to be placed along the half-mile route enabling cyclists to share the promenade with pedestrians.

The seafront is currently a legal no-go area for cyclists with signs and wording pointing out they are banned.

However, a constant stream of people on two-wheelers can be seen using the route each day as a safer shortcut than the roads.

County council cycling officer Tim Yair told the Joint Western Arun Area Committee that the cycle scheme was a joint project with the district council to promote a healthy lifestyle.

"A shared space along the promenade will mean fewer problems from speeding cyclists. Having a segregated space encourages them to put their heads down," he stated.

"We have had a positive consultation. People seem to want this scheme. The negative comments have been far outweighed by the number of positive ones."

The county council's figures show that 1,232 people supported the cycleway and 501 opposed it.

Pedestrians would still have priority along the promenade as some of the signs would show, Mr Yair stated.

The route would be marked by extensive signs which had been used elsewhere, particularly in New Zealand, where cyclists and pedestrians existed in harmony together. Providing the notices will take up much of the project's 25,000 cost.

He explained the section of seafront chosen was wide '“ at 6m across '“ and free of obstructions such as kiosks.

But Cllr Paul English, Felpham Parish Council chairman and a district councillor, said he foresaw dangers from the mixture of young and old walkers, some with poor sight, and cyclists.

"Those pedestrians need a lot of protection from cyclists. To run into a child at five or 10mph, will cause a child some considerable damage.

"At the moment, children going to and from the beach and elderly people use the promenade without any risk and without any fear of an accident.

"So, this scheme needs to be carefully monitored," he stated.

District councillors Ann Smee and Trevor Bence backed the cycle scheme. Cllr Mrs Smee predicted an upsurge in the number of cyclists as people turned to cycling as a cheap means of transport in the recession. Cllr Bence admitted to using the promenade as a cyclist.

Also confessing was Bognor resident and cyclist Peter Coles. He told the committee: "It's the cyclists who need protection and in Bognor they don't have as much protection as they should.

"Cyclists are more likely to be injured by cars than pedestrians are by cyclists.

"Arun District Council should repeal the byelaw all along the promenade. Why should the cycle path stop here?

"Why is it such a short stretch and why is the provision of cycle paths in Bognor so bad compared to Worthing or Chichester?"

A report on the cycle scheme's operation will be given to the committee at the end of this year.

Only two county councillors '“ George Blampied and Robin Brown '“ were present at the meeting. This was too few to make a binding decision, but their support for the cycle scheme has been used to get enough backing from other councillors for formal approval to be given.

I can survive with the cyclists

Seafront train operator Darrell Hardy has said his business can exist with cyclists along the Bognor Regis promenade.

Mr Hardy said he was sure that the impending creation of a cycleway between Gloucester Road and Outram Road in Felpham would not cause any problems for his business.

It is planned to enable cyclists to mingle with pedestrians along that half-mile stretch of seafront.

"We've been living with cyclists all these years," he said, "because everyone cycles along the seafront anyway. We have not had any major incidents with them.

"I don't think we will with the new scheme as long as there's not a mass of people suddenly cycling along there as idiots."

But he called for plenty of signs to be installed along the route to ensure visitors were aware they would be sharing the prom with cyclists.

What do you think? Click here to send a letter or leave a comment below.

Click here to go back to Chichester news

Click here to go back to Bognor Regis news

Click here to go back to Midhurst and Petworth news

To tell us where in the world you are reading this story click on the link below to add yourself to our readers' map.

MAP

.