Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

news

Woking to ban cycling in town centre areas

Local Committee proposes daytime restrictions in shared use spaces

Woking, which enjoys its last official day as a Cycling Town today, will in future restrict cycling in the parts of the town centre at certain times of day.

The decision by Surrey County Council's Local Committee for Woking would see designated areas of the town retaining shared use between pedestrians and cyclists while limiting cycling in other parts of the town centre between 10am and 4pm..

Last year we reported on the difficulty that Cycle Woking and the Surrey Disabled People’s Partnership were having in finding common ground over the use of shared space in the town centre, with the latter arguing that cyclists should be banned altogether from certain pedestrianised areas. Last year the shared use routes through the town centre were made permanent after there were no reported incidents between pedestrians and cyclists during the trial period.

The Local Committee now appears to have taken note of the Partnership’s protestations. A statement from Cycle Woking says: “To recognise the concerns raised by interested local groups and individuals, the Local Committee agreed to introduce time limitations within certain areas where cycling will not be permitted."

The new proposals, if adopted, will mean:

• Cycling in from the Civic Offices up and including Town Square will be restricted from 10am to 4pm, Monday to Sunday, inclusive.
• Cycling in the area within Commercial Way from Church Path to Church Walk will also be restricted from 10am to 4pm, Monday to Sunday, inclusive.

The Local Committee has, however, requested that a de-cluttering feasibility study be carried out in respect of the Commercial Way area. If street clutter was removed, the Committee says that timing restrictions would be revisited.

None of the proposed changes can, in any event, take immediate effect given the requirement for Surrey County Council to consult on the amended Traffic Regulation Order. In the meantime, cycling is still permitted within the areas in question.
 

Add new comment

4 comments

Avatar
monty dog | 13 years ago
0 likes

There's a simple solution, designate all cycle-ways in Woking all heading away from the centre because for the life of me, there's no reason I'd want to ride a bike there - it's bad enough on the odd occasions I've had to take the car.

Avatar
cat1commuter | 13 years ago
0 likes

A similar ban in Cambridge brought in in 1993 sparked the formation of the Cambridge Cycling Campaign. Twelve years later we got it lifted, though it is still sadly in place on a couple of streets around the Grafton Centre, and the streets where it has been lifted still remain one-way for cyclists.

Avatar
OldRidgeback | 13 years ago
0 likes

I think the move made by Woking's councillors is crazy, which was why I posted a link to the story on the BBC website on the forum earlier on. There is a perceived risk but there are no actual reports of incidents. All the same, cycling will be stopped. Perhaps Woking could also ban the use of pull-along wheelie bags due to the injuries they cause by mis-use or mobility scooters as well for the same reason?

Avatar
JessOnABike | 13 years ago
0 likes

Good for Woking demonstrating how difficult it is to botch cycling facilities into a town designed for cars. I'm not sure whether I agree or disagree with Woking's descision, but what is clear is that; cycling facilities will be restricted because of the perceived risk from badly behaved individuals, while driving facilities are only re-engineered after many people are wounded or killed.

Latest Comments