Is this the end of pedestrian areas?

[lostsoul]

Fools! I see that the council have introduced a cycle lane in the pedestrian section of Tulketh St.( which I guess will be a prelude to the same thing happening in Chapel St).
Firstly, don’t these fools know what pedestrian means? Pedestrianised - i.e. traffic free - areas were designed so shoppers could enjoy a relaxed shopping experience without the fear of being struck by cars and bikes. Now, that is out of the window.
Secondly, in the middle of a pandemic, where social distancing is paramount, the council have managed to reduce the area where shoppers can safely avoid each other. Crazy.
Thirdly, will there be a speed limit for bikes in - so-called- pedestrianised areas? Mobility scooters have a speed limit of 4 mph on the pavement. I would suggest that the same rule should apply to bikes. BTW, The Highway Code used to state “ Pavements are for pedestrians NOT vehicles” and added “Pedestrians and vehicles don’t mix[well]”. Now, why has that bit of common sense been thrown on the rubbish dump?

[lostsoul]

Crazy! Just when government is trying to encourage more shoppers into town centres, they go and take away the relaxed - not having watching out for bikes - attractions of traffic free shopping. Are, they deliberately trying to kill Southport town centre?

[The PNP]

Provided people actually look where they are going and don't run or race about - whether on foot, bike, or mobility scooter, I don't see a problem....Most folk manage to co-exist perfectly well on shared facilities elsewhere e.g. on combined cycle/pedestrian-paths and even narrow towpaths.

True, there is always the odd idiot who causes problems. Like the pedestrian glued to a mobile device, who walks into a lamp-post, or the cyclist who rides too fast....But I wouldn't ban the entire cycling community from going about their business safely, just because of the odd dumb-a$$ed muppet.

[silver fox]

Crazy! Just when government is trying to encourage more shoppers into town centres, they go and take away the relaxed - not having watching out for bikes - attractions of traffic free shopping. Are, they deliberately trying to kill Southport town centre?

Priority is now obviously given to the rarely seen cyclist shopper.

[said]

Provided people actually look where they are going and don't run or race about - whether on foot, bike, or mobility scooter, I don't see a problem....Most folk manage to co-exist perfectly well on shared facilities elsewhere e.g. on combined cycle/pedestrian-paths and even narrow towpaths.

True, there is always the odd idiot who causes problems. Like the pedestrian glued to a mobile device, who walks into a lamp-post, or the cyclist who rides too fast....But I wouldn't ban the entire cycling community from going about their business safely, just because of the odd dumb-a$$ed muppet.

Do cycle paths include all cycles? The road sign does not seem to include tricycles or tandems? A mobility scooter moves at around 4 - 6 mph, an electric bike is cycle - what speed do they do? This could become quite a convoluted argument.

[Desert Region]

Crazy! Just when government is trying to encourage more shoppers into town centres, they go and take away the relaxed - not having watching out for bikes - attractions of traffic free shopping. Are, they deliberately trying to kill Southport town centre?

Marvellous, isn't it? Pedestrian only - except mind for the delivery vehicles and now the cyclists. But why stop there? How about adding a taxi rank and a bus lane?

[Desert Region]

Priority is now obviously given to the rarely seen cyclist shopper.

The pushbike pound coin will save the day.

[lostsoul]

The problem here is that pedestrians have got no voice. All these cycle paths etc are that result of lobby groups pushing to "improve" the lot of cyclists.
But where are the champions of pedestrians? Well, there is none!
Pedestrians "rights" have been trampled on right, left and centre.
A few years back there were no cyclists on the pavement, and no cars on the pavement.
For pedestrians, the situation is going down hill rapidly which is a bit ironic because the Government says it's keen to see people walking more and leaving their cars at home.
Fat chance!

[sandGroundZero]

Is this the end of pedestrian areas?

Anyone who visits Chapel Street more-or-less regularly will have observed that 'pedestrianized' is not an absolute. The paving delineates a central lane over which occasional motor vehicles (hopefully, with a purpose) enter the street. Errant cyclists & skateboarders disregarded the ban (with so far as I've ever observed, impunity!)

For the time-being, cyclists are permitted. Perhaps as a quid pro quo bad behaviour will be called-out by a Special Constable. Collisions, if /when they occur, will doubtless be reported. I suspect Chapel St is covered by CCTV and everybody has a video recorder in their pocket these days.

I dare say that if the Council announced Chapel Street were to revert to open to all traffic, there would be a great out-flowing of indignation and anguish. The inescapable facts are that we rely on motor vehicles for too many of our journeys and that subtle (or not so subtle) harms result.

Down-sizing is good!

[Desert Region]

The problem here is that pedestrians have got no voice. All these cycle paths etc are that result of lobby groups pushing to "improve" the lot of cyclists.
But where are the champions of pedestrians? Well, there is none!
Pedestrians "rights" have been trampled on right, left and centre.
A few years back there were no cyclists on the pavement, and no cars on the pavement.
For pedestrians, the situation is going down hill rapidly which is a bit ironic because the Government says it's keen to see people walking more and leaving their cars ay home. Some fat chance!

Or they've been ridden over?!

[local]

You haven't been out much have you ?

there's hundreds of them panniers stuffed to the gunnels balancing huge boxes.
They are returning to the surrounding towns as I write, I even saw one with a wood burning stove on his bike.


Well to be honest I have seen one on Houghton Street on monday and he did have panniers.

I might go out on mine on the cyclists Zil lane.

[Desert Region]

You haven't been out much have you ?

there's hundreds of them panniers stuffed to the gunnels balancing huge boxes.
They are returning to the surrounding towns as I write, I even saw one with a wood burning stove on his bike.


Well to be honest I have seen one on Houghton Street on monday and he did have panniers.

I might go out on mine on the cyclists Zil lane.

That sounds like a scene from an episode of Last of the Summer Wine.

[seivad]

That sounds like a scene from an episode of Last of the Summer Wine.

From now on I will be calling the PNP 'Compo'.

[lostsoul]

Well, I totally disagree that mixing cyclists and pedestrians works. I've been to a number of European cities where cyclists and pedestrians are supposed to exist in perfect harmony and it's a nightmare. I was constantly checking around me to make sure that I wasn't going to be mowed down by cyclists riding at ridiculous speeds.
Again. what pedestrians need is a powerful champion to plead their case.

[Desert Region]

From now on I will be calling the PNP 'Compo'.

Perfect for a Forum caption compo.