Councillor calls for safer cycling up hills in Bath

1.20.35pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 8th Jan 2007

Councillor Roger Symonds (Lib Dem, Combe Down) has called for the Council to make cycling uphill on Ralph Allen Drive safer by painting a white line, to designate a cycle lane, about a metre from the kerb.

Cllr Symonds said:

"I regularly ride up Ralph Allen Drive, often when it is dark, as do many more Combe Down residents, but it is quite frightening to be passed closely by cars travelling at speed. The 'Climb Line' will be helpful to motorists too in giving them a guide to how much room they should give to cyclists. I see this as a pilot scheme, which if successful could be repeated at very little cost on hills throughout Bath and North East Somerset. I have therefore written to Cllr Sir Elgar Jenkins, Cabinet member for Transport asking for the line to be painted on Ralph Allen Drive."

The 'Climb Lines' should afford some protection to cyclists because:

o They will prevent motor vehicles, travelling at speed, from being too close to slow-moving cyclists. Drivers do take notice of white lines and will drive outside the line. At present motorists expect cyclists to ride in the gutters.

o Cyclists do not always cycle in a straight line, especially when going slow, so the line provides for some margin for error.

o The line would be a signal to motorists that the Council takes the safety of cyclists on our roads very seriously.

o The line would be an affirmation of the Council's policy of prioritising cyclists above motorists.

o Approaching the top of Ralph Allen Drive it is often not possible to ride on the inside of the row of cars queuing to get out at the junction with North Road, because they are too close to the kerb. The line would give them a guide to where they should be positioned on the road and allow cyclists to get to the head of the queue

o Would encourage more cyclists on to our roads and therefore help achieve the Council's goal of getting more people to use sustainable transport.

Councillor Symonds has also tabled a question to the Council Executive next week (10th January 2007) to raise this issue.

ENDS