A councillor has called for urgent action on safety improvements to the Lancaster to Morecambe cycle track.
County Councillor Gina Dowding told Beyond Radio she is “appalled at the lack of action by the county council” to make safety improvements for the benefit of walkers and cyclists on the off-road cycle route between Lancaster and Morecambe.
She has called for a refresh of the white lines and cycle symbols on the path. “For over a year now, I have been asking for some very basic maintenance in terms of refreshing the white lining and the cycle symbols on the path,” said Councillor Dowding, who represents Lancaster Central for the Greens.
“I’m flabbergasted that the County Highways department is saying it is not a priority, when the existing white line and cycle symbols in many places are barely visible at all.
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“Safety is getting worse, not better. We know there is a problem of antisocial behaviour, plus an increasing number of people on electric bikes cycling at excessive speeds. The police are running operations to tackle this, but in the meantime it can be terrifying.
“At the very least, visible lining indicates which side of the path people should stick to in order to avoid collisions.
“This is not a luxury cycle leisure route. It’s really vital for people going to local services: to go shopping, to primary schools, to the leisure centre and work on the industrial estate.
“Reform UK, who are running the county council, have just launched an initiative about promoting pride civic pride in public spaces.
“I have urged them to now prioritise funding for safety improvements to this route, otherwise it will just be warm words and no action.”
Lancashire County Council told Beyond Radio they will be refreshed as part of an upcoming programme of work.
County Councillor Warren Goldsworthy, cabinet member for Highways and Transport, said: “We recognise the importance of this route for local people and the route markings will be refreshed as part of an upcoming programme of work.
“We want to strengthen Civic Pride across Lancashire, which includes visible improvements to everyday spaces, so people can be proud of the areas they use regularly, such as the Greenway.”
2 thoughts on ““This is not a luxury cycle route”: Councillor calls for “vital” improvements to “terrifying” cycle track”
Given that in more sensible countries this looks like the width of either a footway OR a single-direction cycle path, I’d like to think a (paint…) divider isn’t being redone because they’re embarrassed by the very poor standard of provision and that it is an affront to civic pride *.
Unfortunately from their rhetoric you’d think some politicians were embarrassed it was being provided at all. (In this case I’d bet it’s nothing more than “we’re even shorter of money that before and this is very low on the priority list” rather than deliberate “cancelling”).
* Is civic pride like Pride but more boring?
I’ve been on this route a few times because it’s not very far from Garstang, it’s on the Way of the Roses, and blood donation is held at Morecambe Football stadium. It seemed fine to me, but I wasn’t on it at peak periods when all the illegal electric motorbikes are terrorising people