A councillor has argued that benches would be a better alternative to proposed new cycle lanes.
It was claimed that possible new bike paths were causing ‘huge concern and distress’ among locals and that if they were built they would put people off using public transport.
> Ealing to scrap almost all LTNs – ‘consultation’ with handful of responses used as ‘referendum’
Sefton Council’s Cllr Sir Ron Watson made the comments after he secured funding for four new benches around Southport, Merseyside.
The new seats have been installed along various points of Lulworth Road and Sir Ron says they will provide rest points for people using public transport, the Southport Visiter and Ormskirk Advertiser, reports.
Sir Ron is one of a number of vocal critics of proposals which could see cycle lanes added to a route running between Crossens, Southport and Ainsdale.
> Residents complain about ‘motorway’ style cycle path
He said: “The aim of the benches is to make it easier for people who are considering using public transport instead of travelling by car because it will allow them to take a break on the way to the bus stop or in its very close vicinity and as such will make like easier for them.
“This is the sort of initiative and forward thinking that has a much more practical effect than the current proposals in respect of cycle lanes which are continuing to cause a huge amount of local concern and distress amongst the public.
“The aim of greater use of public transport is a good one and we have a comprehensive rail and bus network that is the envy of many other parts of the country so we start off with an advantage but we should not in turn put people off by things such as the current cycle lane scheme and I can only express the hope that when the consultation process in respect of cycle lanes is analysed the public will be given a clear view to which the council must adhere.”
54 thoughts on “Benches better than cycle lanes, claims councillor”
Grrr, grrr, outrage, outrage.
Grrr, grrr, outrage, outrage. Is that the desired effect of this article?
HarrogateSpa wrote:
I think that was the desired effect of Cllr Watson’s comments.
Why can’t they have both
Why can’t they have both benches and cycle routes?
ktache wrote:
Is it because the benches don’t take any perceived space away from the motorists? They don’t mind cycle routes going elsewhere, but if they have to make even the slightest change in their behaviour to possibly make a difference to our planet becoming unliveable then it causes them huge concern and distress.
I think you’ve nailed it
I think you’ve nailed it there – let’s start installing benches in High Street parking bays, so that peds can park their posteriors.
Or use them as well as the
Or use them as well as the planters for filtered permeability on LTNs?
The fact that people
The fact that people habituated to inactive travel should need a few sit-downs on the way to a bus stop points towards the need for a more active population.
He’s clearly speaking on
He’s clearly speaking on behalf of his elderly constituents, who presumably form a large part of his vote base.
Quite how seats and cycle lanes are supposed to be mutually exclusive, who knows.
Possibly also a sop to the grumpier oldies …
Velo-drone wrote:
My Mum is in her 70’s but she cycles at least 3 times a week. Also seats are always good if u need to stop have a drink.
One of the guys I race BMX
One of the guys I race BMX bikes with is in his mid 70s
Benches make an excellent
Benches make an excellent place to stop while repairing a puncture though,
Pasley69 wrote:
Good point. Let’s have cycle lanes with nearby benches along with some public bike maintenance equipment every mile or so.
Both!
Both!
4 legs good, 2 legs bad.
4 legs good, 2 legs bad.
I think Sir Ron is
I think Sir Ron is overestimating his initiative and forward thinking prowess. A true visionary would have conceived something more akin to this…
We can safely write off this
We can safely write off this bloke as an entitled twit.
A bench and somewhere to get
A bench and somewhere to get a nice cup of tea are becoming higher priorities for Mrs Mungecrundle and I when we think about going for a walk. However seeing them as mutually exclusive choices for active travel is really pushing the anti cycling boundaries of gammonkind to new horizons.
I always thought it was just
I always thought it was just my local council that were fucking useless/incompetent/stupid.
But it seems it’s a Nationwide problem ?
I wonder how much each bench costs? £5,000?
Not to mention the graffiti
Not to mention the graffiti clean-up and bi-annual paint job.
It’s all a matter of
It’s all a matter of perspective
He sees park benches I see somewhere to lock my bike up
What? You wouldn’t lock your
What? You wouldn’t lock your bike up to an “adult social care” initiative would you?
While you didn’t say which
While you didn’t say which party he belonged to, it was 100:1 he was a tory, and so it proved. It is quite clear that he hasn’t got the first idea about transport, he just knows he hates cyclists, so will say and do anything to obstruct any possible benefit the council might be considering for them.
Not entirely controversy-free either “Huge row as Tory’s motion about adult social care dubbed ‘brain dead’. https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/huge-row-torys-motion-adult-17625665
But he’s definitely gammon, maybe past his prime, but his experience makes up for it.
eburtthebike wrote:
He looks like a Doctor Who alien.
Sir (?) Ron has unwittingly
Sir (?) Ron has unwittingly pointed out the need for cycle lanes (but he’s too stupid to realise). If people need a rest on a bench (honourable exceptions aside) on the way to a bus stop, they really do need to think about their nactive way of life and consider a more active one.
Surreyrider wrote:
or else the bus stops are too far apart, and they need to consider wether their public transport system meets the needs of residents.
Finally someone with the
Finally someone with the “initiative and forward thinking” to install some benches!
Why don’t we get rid of the
Why don’t we get rid of the roads, and replace them with benches too? That way people can stop to rest every few miles.
I think he’s misunderstood
I think he’s simply misunderstood what it means to get a seat on the council.
In all fairness, perhaps this
In all fairness, perhaps this might cut down on the use of e-bikes which are far more harmful to the planet than traditional bikes with their batteries and hazardous waste. Those who would otherwise be too tired to ride a mechanical bike can now stop and rest every so often on Sir Ron’s benches and save the planet!
Plus moronic trolls could
Plus moronic trolls could hide under them and pop out to annoy people with their tedious and risible opinions.
I thought you’d have
I thought you’d have something better to do with your time, but whatever floats your boat I guess!
Excellent comeback, not seen
Excellent comeback, not seen that since primary school, “You are but what am I?”
Nige is back on the normal
Nige is back on the normal distraction from the point technique.
Opposition to cycling infrastructure, let’s talk about E-Bikes instead.
Transparent once more.
So he’s in favour of seats
So he’s in favour of seats that go nowhere, but opposed to bikes because they allow you to sit for your entire journey?
A civilised society might
A civilised society might make way for both… especially one where people are getting both older and fatter. Perhaps they could put some toilets up too as we become more incontinent! Indeed, its a pity there’s no similar invention to deal with the mentally incontinent… apart from town councils, it seems.
Are these magic benches that
Are these magic benches that transport you from A to B simply by saying the magic word? Do you need to buy a ticket to use them?
Nope they are for those who
I thought you use floo powder; and no the seats are for those who get tired half way through walking to and from the bus stop. Maybe more bus stops would be a better option, so commuters don’t have to walk so far. Of course a modern seating style would have the drinking fountain built-in, not to mention a weather shelter as well, and stick up a pole to alert people to their presence – oh wait a minute, that is a bus shelter.
Useful when rolling home from the pub though.
“in respect of cycle lanes
“in respect of cycle lanes which are continuing to cause a huge amount of local concern and distress amongst the public.”…
-_-
Living in the Netherlands I see this everywhere. We have so many freaking bike lanes and the societal fabric is only just barely holding together. Some Dutch folk are even using recreational drugs in order to deal with the situation.
joe9090 wrote:
Look, we’re proud of our national heritage of driving everywhere and drinking to excess (and sometimes both at the same time though that is frowned upon). The last thing we want is clean, cheap and effective transport and we need to keep our brains pickled in alcohol to keep us thinking in a purely tribal manner – we don’t want your devil’s lettuce opening us up to foreign ideas.
And another thing, the
And another thing, the Netherlands numbers bike paths. Motorists are really scared of this – its bad enough have main highways numbered, but suburban roads will all have to be numbered to conform to the Dutch system. Imagine trying to find your mum’s place at 36 route 7.
I love the idea that cycle
I love the idea that cycle lanes cause distress!
I suppose this is actually the case for many people, and it’s why they are so irrational in their hatred of them. The old world order is being upset, one bike lane at a time!
We Don’t Want No Cycle Paths Here https://t.co/WQqYYLXvZs
CyclingJudy wrote:
Maybe they’re getting cycle paths and psychopaths mixed up!
while they are putting in
while they are putting in benches to accomodate people taking a mid walk rest, perhaps they can make drinking water available so cyclists can get a refill mid ride.
Surely freely available potable water in all areas would reduce the number of single use plastic bottles being sold.
wycombewheeler wrote:
Great idea. I have my doubts that the Big Water Lobby would allow it though.
hawkinspeter wrote:
Didn’t Bristol put in free water fountains all around the city centre?
Unfortunately, they finished the project just before Covid hit and everyone became afraid of touching anything out in public without bleach spray and rubber gloves…
(Mind you, even before Covid, you wouldn’t get me using the one in Broadmead that the interesting folks who hang around outside the mini Tesco’s used as a “litter” bin…).
hawkinspeter wrote:
I’m sure the water companies would not mind as long as someone was paying for the water.
I think metered water is about £1.30 per cubic meter in Bristol or 7.7 litres for a penny. Remember that the next time you buy bottled water for a pound. a pennys worth of water and 99p for the plastic + the inefficiency of transporting full bottles to the consumer.
This app shows places that
This app shows places that will happily refill your water bottle for free – I can’t vouch for how many places will have signed up for it on your routes but it works pretty well.
https://www.refillapp.com
markieteeee wrote:
Quite useful, but I’d prefer taps outside which are available 24 hours per day, rather than business which are open some of the time. Taps which spring closed will prevent water wastage by people leaving them on.
Weirdly, after this
Weirdly, after this conversation, I just heard today that 100 new water fountains have been opened in London. They’re supposed to be in busy and accessible places, so possibly aimed at people on foot but it’s a start at least. I’m off now to top mine up at the Oval tube and see what they’re like.
markieteeee wrote:
sounds like good progress, as long as you can get the water into a bidon, and it doesn’t just trickle out so you can only get a mouthfull with you face an inch from the plumbing.
Well the one at Oval was
Well the one at Oval was covered up – it didn’t say why – so I didn’t get to try it anyway. But yes, they’re designed to fill bottles from above, to reduce single-use plastic waste, rather than let someone stick their gob on it during a pandemic. So the idea is good even if I didn’t get to use one today. A pub a few hunded metres away filled me up and threw in a few ice cubes for good measure.
markieteeee wrote:
I understand it’s standard in London for infrastructure that benefits cyclist to be removed quite soon after being installed. So presumably there were many vociferous complaints about the hazards these water fountains caused to inattentive car drivers, and that there would be an increase in pollution.
Well after a while the water
Well after a while the water fountains might leak, causing the area around to get slippery and dangerous – much better to remove them straight away. A sort of pre-emptive hazard removal.
“aimed at people on foot”? –
“aimed at people on foot”? – well hopefully not aimed at cyclists. I get wet enough as it is 🙂