Ban on cycling through Woking town centre at certain times to be reviewed

QUOTE:
Woking's ban on cycling in the town centre at certain times of day is to be reviewed after a cyclist argued that children can currently ride to school legally but not home again.

Cycling is prohibited through the town centre and along Commercial Way between Chapel Street and Chobham Road between 10.30am and 4pm.

At a meeting of Surrey County Council and Woking Borough Council (WBC) Joint Committee on Wednesday, (March 4), Norman Johns, chairman of Woking Cycle Users Group, called for the ban to be lifted.

He said: "The enforcement, as it stands now, makes it impossible for children to cycle across the town square, which they would do naturally, then cycle back because they are breaking the law doing that. Andrew Milne, area highway manager, told the meeting the rules were in place because of problems with speeding cyclists and the danger they posed for pedestrians.

He said cyclists could still dismount and walk through the restricted area with their bike, adding: "There's been a lot of strong feeling on both sides with changing the existing arrangements."

He said for the number of people keen to see the conditions relaxed there would be an equal number wanting to keep the ban.

He added: "We do have to balance these with all highways users - not just for cyclists but so pedestrians are safe.

"It's not always the case of accidents taking place, but people feeling they have been involved in a near miss. WBC leader David Bittleston said with major works such as the Victoria Square tower block development and the £95 million Victoria Arch schemes bringing changes to the town centre layout, now would be a good time to review the ban. He said: "Now is an appropriate time to start looking at how we improve it for the future, how do we solve some of the problems we have created in the past.

"It does seem like a sensible time to go back and have a review because in 12 months' time Victoria Square opens."

Woking, which was awarded Cycling Town status in 2008, saw the restriction on town centre cycling introduced in March 2011.

There have been no known prosecutions of people caught cycling between those times. (SO MUCH FOR LAW BREAKING CYCLISTS - SM)

https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/sur...-town-17867229

On 05/03/2020 20:54, Simon Mason wrote:
QUOTE: Woking's ban on cycling in the town centre at certain times of
day is to be reviewed after a cyclist argued that children can
currently ride to school legally but not home again.

Cycling is prohibited through the town centre and along Commercial
Way between Chapel Street and Chobham Road between 10.30am and 4pm.

Brilliant! That section has bike racks in the middle of it.

There have been no known prosecutions of people caught cycling
between those times. (SO MUCH FOR LAW BREAKING CYCLISTS - SM)

The "ban" might not be legal in the first place. If wouldn't be the only
council that puts up an official looking sign in the hope that people
take notice of it.

On 05/03/2020 20:54, Simon Mason wrote:

QUOTE:
Woking's ban on cycling in the town centre at certain times of day is to be reviewed after a cyclist argued that children can currently ride to school legally but not home again.

Cycling is prohibited through the town centre and along Commercial Way between Chapel Street and Chobham Road between 10.30am and 4pm.

At a meeting of Surrey County Council and Woking Borough Council (WBC) Joint Committee on Wednesday, (March 4), Norman Johns, chairman of Woking Cycle Users Group, called for the ban to be lifted.

He said: "The enforcement, as it stands now, makes it impossible for children to cycle across the town square, which they would do naturally, then cycle back because they are breaking the law doing that. Andrew Milne, area highway manager, told the meeting the rules were in place because of problems with speeding cyclists and the danger they posed for pedestrians.

He said cyclists could still dismount and walk through the restricted area with their bike, adding: "There's been a lot of strong feeling on both sides with changing the existing arrangements."

He said for the number of people keen to see the conditions relaxed there would be an equal number wanting to keep the ban.

He added: "We do have to balance these with all highways users - not just for cyclists but so pedestrians are safe.

"It's not always the case of accidents taking place, but people feeling they have been involved in a near miss. WBC leader David Bittleston said with major works such as the Victoria Square tower block development and the £95 million Victoria Arch schemes bringing changes to the town centre layout, now would be a good time to review the ban. He said: "Now is an appropriate time to start looking at how we improve it for the future, how do we solve some of the problems we have created in the past.

"It does seem like a sensible time to go back and have a review because in 12 months' time Victoria Square opens."

Woking, which was awarded Cycling Town status in 2008, saw the restriction on town centre cycling introduced in March 2011.

There have been no known prosecutions of people caught cycling between those times. (SO MUCH FOR LAW BREAKING CYCLISTS - SM)

https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/sur...-town-17867229

"...children can currently ride to school legally but not home again...".

One way to address that is to allow schoolchildren in school uniform on
bicycles an exemption for their homebound journey, provided that they
cycle carefully and with every consideration for pedestrians.

There is obviously no need to relax the rules for 45 year old men in
Lycra and to be fair, the argument is not being advanced on their
behalf, is it?

On Thursday, March 5, 2020 at 10:04:28 PM UTC, TMS320 wrote:
On 05/03/2020 20:54, Simon Mason wrote:
QUOTE: Woking's ban on cycling in the town centre at certain times of
day is to be reviewed after a cyclist argued that children can
currently ride to school legally but not home again.

Cycling is prohibited through the town centre and along Commercial
Way between Chapel Street and Chobham Road between 10.30am and 4pm.

Brilliant! That section has bike racks in the middle of it.

There have been no known prosecutions of people caught cycling
between those times. (SO MUCH FOR LAW BREAKING CYCLISTS - SM)

The "ban" might not be legal in the first place. If wouldn't be the only
council that puts up an official looking sign in the hope that people
take notice of it.

Bournemouth is looking to lift their summer promenade cycling ban as well.

https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/ne...r-cycling-ban/

On 05/03/2020 23:07, JNugent wrote:

"...children can currently ride to school legally but not home again...".

One way to address that is to allow schoolchildren in school uniform on
bicycles an exemption for their homebound journey, provided that they
cycle carefully and with every consideration for pedestrians.

It just requires acknowledgment that walking a bike is utter nonsense
when cycling is done carefully with every consideration for pedestrians.

There is obviously no need to relax the rules for 45 year old men in
Lycra and to be fair, the argument is not being advanced on their
behalf, is it?

Are 45 year olds more likely to mow down delicate whinging flowers, such
as you, than 16 year olds?

On 06/03/2020 13:47, TMS320 wrote:

On 05/03/2020 23:07, JNugent wrote:

"...children can currently ride to school legally but not home again...".

One way to address that is to allow schoolchildren in school uniform
on bicycles an exemption for their homebound journey, provided that
they cycle carefully and with every consideration for pedestrians.

It just requires acknowledgment that walking a bike is utter nonsense
when cycling is done carefully with every consideration for pedestrians.

Just like cyclists already display, you mean? ;-)

There is obviously no need to relax the rules for 45 year old men in
Lycra and to be fair, the argument is not being advanced on their
behalf, is it?

Are 45 year olds more likely to mow down delicate whinging flowers, such
as you, than 16 year olds?

It makes no difference. 45 year olds don't go to (or from) school and
are not in any category likely to gain public sympathy. Let them walk or
go another way, mixing it with traffic instead of pedestrians. You
c0ould say the same for secondary school pupils over (say) 14.

On 06/03/2020 13:55, JNugent wrote:
On 06/03/2020 13:47, TMS320 wrote:

On 05/03/2020 23:07, JNugent wrote:

"...children can currently ride to school legally but not home
again...".

One way to address that is to allow schoolchildren in school uniform
on bicycles an exemption for their homebound journey, provided that
they cycle carefully and with every consideration for pedestrians.

It just requires acknowledgment that walking a bike is utter nonsense
when cycling is done carefully with every consideration for pedestrians.

Just like cyclists already display, you mean? ;-)

There is obviously no need to relax the rules for 45 year old men in
Lycra and to be fair, the argument is not being advanced on their
behalf, is it?

Are 45 year olds more likely to mow down delicate whinging flowers,
such as you, than 16 year olds?

It makes no difference. 45 year olds don't go to (or from) school and
are not in any category likely to gain public sympathy. Let them walk or
go another way, mixing it with traffic instead of pedestrians. You
c0ould say the same for secondary school pupils over (say) 14.

You mean teachers, assistants,dinner ladies, cleaners, grounds people,
school nurses ,what have you, don't ride bikes? Or are under 14?

On 06/03/2020 19:42, colwyn wrote:
On 06/03/2020 13:55, JNugent wrote:
On 06/03/2020 13:47, TMS320 wrote:

On 05/03/2020 23:07, JNugent wrote:

"...children can currently ride to school legally but not home
again...".

One way to address that is to allow schoolchildren in school uniform
on bicycles an exemption for their homebound journey, provided that
they cycle carefully and with every consideration for pedestrians.

It just requires acknowledgment that walking a bike is utter nonsense
when cycling is done carefully with every consideration for pedestrians.

Just like cyclists already display, you mean? ;-)

There is obviously no need to relax the rules for 45 year old men in
Lycra and to be fair, the argument is not being advanced on their
behalf, is it?

Are 45 year olds more likely to mow down delicate whinging flowers,
such as you, than 16 year olds?

It makes no difference. 45 year olds don't go to (or from) school and
are not in any category likely to gain public sympathy. Let them walk
or go another way, mixing it with traffic instead of pedestrians. You
c0ould say the same for secondary school pupils over (say) 14.

You mean teachers, assistants,dinner ladies, cleaners, grounds people,
school nurses ,what have you, don't ride bikes? Or are under 14?

The what price fish that do price with to has?

Anyone can push a bike (rather than riding it to the detriment of
pedestrians) for a couple of hundred yards.

Your real name isn't "Doug", is it?

On 06/03/2020 19:42, colwyn wrote:

You mean teachers, assistants,dinner ladies, cleaners, grounds people,
school nurses ,what have you, don't ride bikes? Or are under 14?

I cycled along Commercial Way to/from school. People would have been
using it on bicycles before motor vehicles came along. During my time at
school motorists were given a shiny new dual carriageway bypass.
Commercial Way was partly pedestrianised when I was at university. The
town centre has been messed around again since then and don't know how
provision has changed through the years.

Unless there an alternative, equal or better, is provided then it seems
historical accees applies. The other poster's idea that cyclists should
use a longer, less safe alternative, or get off and push, is ridiculous
when the original route still exists.

On 07/03/2020 10:14, TMS320 wrote:
On 06/03/2020 19:42, colwyn wrote:

You mean teachers, assistants,dinner ladies, cleaners, grounds people,
school nurses ,what have you, don't ride bikes? Or are under 14?

I cycled along Commercial Way to/from school. People would have been
using it on bicycles before motor vehicles came along.

So what? The ban is aimed at protecting pedestrians, not the users of
motor vehicles or bicycles.

During my time at
school motorists were given a shiny new dual carriageway bypass.

And?

Commercial Way was partly pedestrianised when I was at university. The
town centre has been messed around again since then and don't know how
provision has changed through the years.

Unless there an alternative, equal or better, is provided then it seems
historical accees applies. The other poster's idea that cyclists should
use a longer, less safe alternative, or get off and push, is ridiculous
when the original route still exists.

The location is for the use of pedestrians. Cyclists and operators of
other vehicles (presumably save for emergency vehicles) may not use it.

It's so easy to understand if you just apply your mind for a few
seconds. Does that cause you a problem?