Devon County Council pledge millions for cycling schemes
By This is SouthDevon | Wednesday, July 11, 2012, 11:51
DEVON County Council is to spend millions of pounds to reinforce the county's credentials as one of Britain's leading cycling destinations.
Cllr Stuart Hughes, the county's highways and transportation spokesman, told members of the Cabinet this morning that cycling was crucial to strengthen the local economy, to promote health and wellbeing, and to protect the environment.
The Sidmouth Sidford member said the council had spent £13million on cycling schemes in the last three years, and planned investment over the next five years to increase cycle use across the county by another 20 per cent.
The council's Cycling Strategy document outlined a further £14million in infrastructure investments between now and 2015, with further funding coming from other sources.
He said: "Our aim is for Devon to be recognised as a prime destination for cycling holidays and breaks, helped by promotions like the Tour of Britain."
The professional cycle race will return to Devon in September with a stage starting in Barnstaple and finishing in Dartmouth.
However, Newton Abbot councillor Gordon Hook warned members that opportunities were being missed.
He said: "Leisure cycling is all good and proper, but the urban population are keen to be using safe cycleways in their urban areas, and that isn't always available.
"Opportunities are being missed. In Newton Abbot the Ashburton Road development links a big residential area with the town. I pleaded for cycleway provision to be built in. It wasn't. Missed opportunity.
"Asda has come to the town. A cyclist in the vicinity of Asda is taking their life in their hands.
"Opportunities are being missed."
Cllr Brian Greenslade (Barnstaple North) welcomed the proposal and said that spending £50,000 on the disused railway line that went on to become the Tarka Trail had been one of the best investments the council had ever made.
He added: "It's amazing to see the number of vehicles coming into North Devon with cycles on the back.
"It's good for the health of the community and for the economy."
Cllr Saxon Spence (Pinhoe and Mincinglake) said while it was encouraging to see more families cycling for leisure, it was important to concentrate on facilities for urban and commuting cyclists too.
Overgrown cycle paths were off-putting, she said, and Richard Westlake (Newton and Polsloe) also stressed the need to develop safe routes for urban cyclists and minimise conflict with pedestrians.
Cllr Des Hannon (Tiverton East) added: "There is nothing in this report that I don't welcome.
"But regular commuting is at least as important as leisure cycling, if not more so."
Comments
we need safer routes to school roads are to dangerous for young children i escort upto 10 children to school and back keeping 6 cars off the road its not fair we are not allowed to cycle in parks not allowed on babbacombe downs torquay needs to invest in safe cycle routes
By w31don at 09:58 on 15/07/12
Reportso bikephil, you living in dream land, £2 litre for fuel, just to get people on bikes, people are struggling as it is at £1.40, that is couriers, taxi's, buses without the lorrys, not forgetting carers
By 147ref at 23:09 on 12/07/12
ReportBayman1.
There is no such thing as 'road tax' and you will also find the vast majority of cyclists are also car users.
I commute to work by bike and it is quicker to ride the seven miles to work then it is to drive.
I have full insurance which is required for racing, I never ride on the pavement and will never jump a red light. as a pedestrian I will block the path of a cyclist on the pavement and have a rant at them as well as shouting at cyclists who run red lights.
Don't tar us all with the same brush please.
On the odd occasion I do drive I will stick to the speed limit. I am fed up of drivers flashing their lights at me and trying to overtake when I am doing 30mph in a 30mph zone.
My seven mile commute takes 22 minutes on the way in and around 18 minutes on the way back.
It is just as expensive to run and maintain a bike than it is to run a car when you are cycling bikes well into four figures.
The majority of car drivers who pass me have no thoughts overtaking on blind bends and crossing double white lines to do so. If I was a horse rider they would slow down and wait. This is against the Highway Code and I will pull in and let drivers pass if there is an opportunity.
Put the cost of fuel up to £2 a litre and get freight back on the railways.
Phil.
By bikephil at 21:06 on 12/07/12
Report@bayman1.
It's not road tax, it's Vehicle Excise Duty and VED alone has never been used for road maintenance. Like any other tax it goes into the general kitty. Funds for road maintenance, like all government spending, come from that kitty; everyone who pays tax, including cyclists and even those who never use the roads, pay for the upkeep of our roads.
On the subject of breaking the rules, show me a rule broken by a cyclist and I'll show you 5 broken by motorists. Do cyclists speed? Park illegally, tailgate, kill 3000 people a year. And yes, motorists jmp lights too, but they don't die if they get it wrong. .... you don't survive very long on a bike taking the same kind of risks motorists take every day.
That woman you saw *nearly* knocked down by a cyclist, that same day 63 were seriously injured and 8 were killed when motorists actually did mow down someone.
Heres another stat for you. Out of all accidents involving cyclists and motorists, 75% were found to be the fault of the motorist.
And remember also, very few people these days don't own a car. Nearly every cyclist on the road is also a motorist.. That includes me.
By MrClutterbut at 20:48 on 12/07/12
ReportAbsolutely Geoff21 A properly maintained road network with provision for Cyclists rather than intermittent tracks that go nowhere.
By PRnotPC at 20:22 on 12/07/12
Report