Improvements planned to boost cycling in Bognor Regis as lockdown eases

Improvements to boost cycling in Bognor Regis have been put forward due to the need to maintain social distancing as the coronavirus lockdown eases.
West Sussex County Council has proposed a series of improvements to boost cyclingWest Sussex County Council has proposed a series of improvements to boost cycling
West Sussex County Council has proposed a series of improvements to boost cycling

West Sussex County Council has submitted a number of safe space cycling schemes to the Department for Transport to consider.

One of the seven schemes is for the A259 in Bognor Regis. The county council said it would be looking to widen the temporary surface where possible, cut back overhanging vegetation and removing growth on the existing path, while consideration would also be given to converting one lane of the western dual carriageway into a cycle/bus lane.

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Adam Bell, chair of the Bognor Regis Cycle Forum, explained that many people are put off cycling because they feel roads are too dangerous, and as a result of the lockdown more people have been able to get out on bikes with much emptier roads.

He added: “We’re now at a crossroads where more and more people want to carry on cycling for leisure, health, getting to work and everyday travel. The announcement from WSCC that they have developed plans to add 21km of temporary cycle lanes is welcomed as it will give people the confidence to carry on cycling.

“However, this can only be the start. With public transport capacity reduced, unless more effort is made to encourage walking and cycling to be the default choice for shorter journeys, we’ll see local roads slowly become more and more crowded with private cars, far more than before the lockdown. This will only add to the existing problems of climate change, congestion, air pollution and poor health.

“Therefore local authorities must take action to look long term and introduce far more wide spread change to free up much more space for segregated paths, which should also connect places that people will want to travel to by bike, in order to enable people to feel safe and encourage more to leave the car and cycle instead.”

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He suggested other easy and low cost fixes such as making 20mph the default speed in all urban and residential areas, banning all pavement parking, increasing cycle parking in residential areas, shops and near businesses, looking at cycle hire schemes, encouraging businesses to promote cycling to their employees and looking at ways of getting more local deliveries to be made by cargo bike.

The seven schemes would involve a combination of temporary traffic management, such as cones and signing, light segregation using ‘traffic wands’, planters, water-filled barriers, road markings and temporary 20mph speed limits.

Roger Elkins, cabinet member for highways and infrastructure, said: “We have been working closely with our district and borough partners to look at a whole host of ways we can improve cycling provision as a direct response to the easing of lockdown. If the schemes get the go-ahead, they will form part of a series of measures which will make a real difference for cyclists in each of the county’s seven borough and district areas as the Government eases lockdown.

“There is no guarantee the Department for Transport will accept the schemes for funding, but we believe we have presented a good case which could result in 21km of new, temporary cycleways in West Sussex.

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“Alongside these schemes which would require central funding, we will continue to work with our district and borough council partners on other measures which could be introduced at minimal expense but add even more safe space for cyclists.”

Geoff Farrell, chair of the West Sussex Cycle Forum, added: “The announcement of these schemes being put forward to the DfT is excellent news. Not only has WSCC got the bid in well before the deadline, but it shows that the council is taking seriously the need to restructure our transport infrastructure.

“The West Sussex Cycle Forum looks forward to hearing that the bid is approved, that the work is starting ASAP and more importantly - that this is just the beginning.”

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