Cyclists say they are being forced “into direct conflict with drivers” by holding up traffic or onto pavement with pedestrians, as petition calls on council to rethink “discriminatory, unsafe” decision to scrap cycle lane plans

Earlier this summer, the local authority announced that its proposals for
the harbourside regeneration scheme would no longer include protected
cycling infrastructure, in order to move a line of trees “closer to the kerb”

by RYAN MALLON FRI, SEP 06, 2024 13:38

Cyclists in Torquay have claimed that revamped designs for a regeneration project in the seaside resort are “unsafe and unsuitable”, and will force cyclists either onto the pavement or “into direct conflict with motorists”, as a petition calling on the local council to rethink their plans is set to
be discussed next week.

According to the petition, the revisions to Torbay Council’s Harbour Public Realm scheme in Torquay have, by reducing the width of the road but
scrapping plans to include a protected cycle lane, “worsened the provision for cyclists and are not acceptable”, and have created infrastructure which will potentially “discriminate” against those who use cycles as mobility aids.

The project on the Strand, described as the “biggest transformation project that Torquay has seen in decades”, aims to reflect local residents’ wishes to generate less motor traffic along the seafront, ensure better public transport connections, and to create more space for pedestrians and events
with a high-quality, vibrant public space.

Work began on the multi-million-pound scheme began last November, when
plans for a new, segregated cycle lane were still in place.

However, as we reported earlier this summer, the Conservative-led council announced in July that “some amendments” to the design were necessary following the discovery of uncharted water pipes in an area originally
marked out for underground tree pits.

The local authority said the revised design, which has also led the
completion of the project to be delayed, now means that the line of trees
will be moved closer to the kerb line, and that cycling provision will now
be incorporated into the main, reduced, carriageway.

This news provoked some widespread, stinging criticism from Torquay’s
cycling community, who will take the matter to the council next week after
a petition (link is external) opposing the revised plans attracted 130 signatures.

The petition called on the council to “fulfil their obligation to cyclists
as road users by creating a designated space within the paved area as part
of The Strand: Harbour Public Realm regeneration and improvement project”.

It continued: “Since the decision was taken to remove the segregated
cycleway from the road with no alternative, as new plans give no safe
provision for cyclists, they are forced into direct conflict with
motorists.

“This is not suitable or safe in this busy area. What needs to be created
is a segregated, designated ‘lane’ within the paved area. Or as a last option the entire paved area should be designated as a mixed-use paved area with clear signage for all to ‘share with care’. Although not the ideal solution, it is safer to mix cyclists with pedestrians, rather than vehicles.”

The petition also noted that the revised scheme will potentially make life worse for cyclists on the Strand, either forcing them to use a now-narrower road alongside motorists, to mingle with pedestrians on the pavement, or
simply push their bikes.

“Previously, when the road was a dual carriageway, vehicles had ample space to be able to overtake. The current plans for the harbourside have worsened
the provision for cyclists and are not acceptable,” the petition said.

“Cyclists now have two options – to cycle very defensively, taking the lane and holding up traffic in this busy area, or to dismount and wheel their
bike through this section.

“For some cyclists, their bike is their mobility aid so this second option
is discriminatory against them. For many, the road will feel unsafe and so
they will choose to cycle on the pavement anyway.”

Criticising the scheme’s apparent active travel credentials, the petition concluded: “None of this supports Torbay Council’s own stated desires to encourage active tourism and increase active travel uptake.

“We call on Torbay Council to act as a progressive, supportive organisation and encourage cycling of all ages through Torquay. This will also benefit motorists as it gives cyclists the choice to come off the road when it is
not appropriate.”

When the revised plans for the Strand were announced in July, Beth Huntley,
a campaigner from Safe, Sustainable Travel Torbay, added that “less
confident cyclists and children won’t be able to use it and it will
encourage drivers to close-pass”, while denouncing the “underhand way this major change has been hidden in a press release”.

“No consultation has occurred and it doesn’t appear that any other options have been considered,” she said.

“These plans must be reconsidered – all road users will be frustrated with these arrangements.”

Responding to the criticisms from cyclists, Chris Lewis, the Conservative cabinet member for economic growth on Torbay Council, argued that it was a question of keeping the trees or keeping the cycle lane.

He said a new 20mph speed limit would be introduced and claimed that the
road would be “a lot safer than before”.

“In the past the Strand was really a bus terminal, now it will be traffic running smoothly through the Strand which only stretches for about 200 yards,” he said.

“I think when the scheme is finished the cyclists will be pleased with what they see.”

<https://road.cc/content/news/new-seafront-plans-force-cyclists-conflict-drivers-310223>

Beth Huntley: “…major change has been hidden in a press release”. No sense
of irony there?

Torquay ‘cycling community’: “…the entire paved area should be designated
as a mixed-use paved area with clear signage for all to ‘share with care’.”
No sense of irony there either?

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