A local councillor has called for a halt in Sefton Council's rush to introduce expensive projects purporting to ease cycling - in the wake of a High Court ruling against similar schemes in London.

https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Admin/2021/72.html

Keen cyclist, Councillor Tony Dawson, who represents Southport's town centre on Sefton Council, is demanding that measures to improve cycling and walking should only be brought in after being properly thought out and consulted on with local residents and traders and their elected representatives. He has written to ask the Council to not bring in extra measures until there are genuine and sensible consultation measures taken in the town.

"I was contacted by numerous businesses on Hoghton Street as well as churchgoers when the pop-up cycle measures suddenly emerged," says Councillor Dawson.

"There was no consultation at all when Sefton Council grabbed at a government grant and imposed cycling schemes thought up in a hurry by one or two council officers late last year," Councillor Dawson says, "and intentions have been announced to bring in considerably more cycle lanes, again in a hurry. Business and residential interests as well as those of cyclists need to be carefully considered which has not happened here."

"It is quite possible that one or two of the measures already brought in might potentially be useful in a properly-thought out cycling scheme in Southport. Or there might be better routes. There are certainly also various other alternatives which need proper consideration. Money is tighter than ever at the moment and should not be thrown around willy-nilly."

"It is very unlikely that any scheme would be agreed with by everyone but every person has a right to have their views heard and considered - especially when it affects their homes or businesses."

"That is what democracy is about and here in Southport we have been totally deprived of this so far."

"Non-cyclists and cyclists need to respect each others' perspectives, not treat the issue as if it was some kind of war. We need measures which assist those who would like to cycle safely to do so while not being detrimental to others. And accountable elected Southport councillors should be permitted to voice the balance of views of all the local interests in the making of any decisions."

Lib Dem Councillor Pat Keith has also put a question down for answer by the Cabinet Member at tonight's (21 January) Sefton Council meeting concerning the lack of consultation over cycling measures being implemented by the Council.

And Lib Dem leader Councillor John Pugh has asked the government minister in charge of cycling to come to town to see the effects of hurriedly-introduced cycle lanes on the streets of parts of Southport.

https://www.qlocal.co.uk/southport/n...s-55049045.htm

If you see someone wearing cycle clips and a face like a smacked arris it'll be our resident anti automobile correspondent.

Keen cyclist but no more recent photo of him with a bike than summertime?

Contenders for Council seats have evidently decided Emergency cycle lanes are a useful means of generating campaign leaflet column inches and press releases in advance of Council elections scheduled for May. In this they are hoping to stoke motorists' resentment whether there was initially a grievance or more likely, NOT.

Councils everywhere have become ever more a battleground for partisanship at the expense of a common front vis-à-vis intrusive central government and effective management of local matters.

Imposing a scheme on people that is clearly ill-thought and poorly timed is a hard sell for anyone.

The evidence is there, no need to invent car owner bias claims, the Unicorn lanes are empty.

Let's spend the money on something that's really needed in the town, if you want to get on your bike like I do you there's nothing stopping you and plenty of places to go.

I would feel a whole lot better knowing people had enough to eat and could keep warm.

Originally Posted by roving-eye

A) "It is quite possible that one or two of the measures already brought in might potentially be useful in a properly-thought out cycling scheme in Southport. Or there might be better routes. There are certainly also various other alternatives which need proper consideration. Money is tighter than ever at the moment and should not be thrown around willy-nilly."

B) "Non-cyclists and cyclists need to respect each others' perspectives, not treat the issue as if it was some kind of war. We need measures which assist those who would like to cycle safely to do so while not being detrimental to others. And accountable elected Southport councillors should be permitted to voice the balance of views of all the local interests in the making of any decisions."

A) There are only two practical ways for shoppers to ride into the town centre from residential areas located in the North of town. They are; Hoghton St or Lord St. Of the two, Hoghton St is the better choice, since it has less traffic on it, which is precisely why it was chosen......I would be most intrigued to hear about these mysterious 'better routes' mentioned above.

B) Respect, or rather lack of respect from motorists is precisely why cycle-lanes are needed in the first place....Riders are skimmed dangerously by at close quarters, being left wobbling in the wake of disrespectful motorists. If everyone driving slowed down, waited for a safe break in oncoming traffic and passed at the required 1.5m+, the roads would be safe to use without these modifications.

Originally Posted by local

if you want to get on your bike like I do you there's nothing stopping you and plenty of places to go.

Sure, there are plenty of quiet lanes in W.Lancs, ideal for recreational rides......But leisure aside, people need to get to the shops safely - and return home without receiving life-changing injuries.

Btw, when was the last time you braved the traffic, as I have to do, and cycled the return shopping-trip to Southport town centre?

Originally Posted by The PNP

A) There are only two practical ways for shoppers to ride into the town centre from residential areas located in the North of town. They are; Hoghton St or Lord St. Of the two, Hoghton St is the better choice, since it has less traffic on it, which is precisely why it was chosen..

So can we get rid of the cycle lane on Lord Street then?

Originally Posted by The PNP

Sure, there are plenty of quiet lanes in W.Lancs, ideal for recreational rides......But leisure aside, people need to get to the shops safely - and return home without receiving life-changing injuries.

Btw, when was the last time you braved the traffic, as I have to do, and cycled the return shopping-trip to Southport town centre?

As usual all about you, "me,me me me me"!
I don't have any problems on my bike and the Unicorn Lanes ARE empty....
Perhaps we should refer to them ss "Muppet's Highway"?

Originally Posted by salus.populi

So can we get rid of the cycle lane on Lord Street then?

What cycle-lane? There's a couple of lengths of short bus/taxi/cycle lane, on one side of the street only, one of which usually has a bus parked on it, rendering it next to useless.

Considering how many bikes there are, because of lack of safe tarmac it's rare to see one on Lord St. Hopefully, that will change after the next round of pop-up lanes appear.

Originally Posted by Tallboy

As usual all about you, "me,me me me me"!
I don't have any problems on my bike and the Unicorn Lanes ARE empty....
Perhaps we should refer to them ss "Muppet's Highway"?

The town's in lockdown, almost all the shops are shut - just how many shoppers do you expect to see in these circumstances?

21/01/2021 04:49 PM local says:

Imposing a scheme on people that is clearly ill-thought and poorly timed is a hard sell for anyone. The evidence is there, no need to invent car owner bias claims, the Unicorn lanes are empty. | Let's spend the money on something that's really needed in the town, if you want to get on your bike like I do you there's nothing stopping you and plenty of places to go. | I would feel a whole lot better knowing people had enough to eat and could keep warm.

It is unfortunate that the PM, Grant Shapps, et al are seriously incompetent.
It is too bad that every policy iniative in this benighted country originates in Whitehall.

Reallocating road space in response to COVID-19:
statutory guidance for local authorities

Originally Posted by The PNP

What cycle-lane? There's a couple of lengths of short bus/taxi/cycle lane, on one side of the street only, one of which usually has a bus parked on it, rendering it next to useless.
.

Yes, that's the one. Useless for bikes and taxis because there's occasionally a bus in it. So just turn it back into a lane that all traffic including buses can use.

Originally Posted by salus.populi

Yes, that's the one. Useless for bikes and taxis because there's occasionally a bus in it. So just turn it back into a lane that all traffic including buses can use.

Or make a lay-by for the buses to park in - and extend the lane full length of the street - on both sides....

Originally Posted by The PNP

Or make a lay-by for the buses to park in - and extend the lane full length of the street - on both sides....

That comment takes your stupidity to a whole new level.