Bolton looks set to become the latest town to ban cyclists from certain areas. The council is currently consulting on whether to impose a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) targeting various activities which it deems to be anti-social in nature.
The Bolton News reports that a survey of Bolton shoppers revealed that some felt “hounded” as they crossed Victoria Square and that they were intimidated by, “drunks, druggies, skateboarders and cyclists.”
The council believes a PSPO would make the town centre safer and more appealing.
If the PSPO gets the go-ahead, prohibited activities would include consumption of alcohol in the street, begging, street trading, soliciting for money, use of amplifiers and use of bicycles.
The area from which bikes would be banned primarily centres on Victoria Square, extending up adjacent streets – although several other roads and squares are also included.
PSPOs have attracted a degree of controversy, in particular for how they lump cycling in with a number of anti-social acts.
Duncan Dollimore, Cycling UK’s head of campaigns, said:
“Last December, the Home Office published new statutory guidance making it clear that PSPOs should only target the specific behaviour causing nuisance or harm, and not generic activities that are in themselves harmless.
“In Bolton, the Council aren’t targeting cyclists thought to be causing a danger or nuisance through the manner of their cycling, rather they’re seeking to prohibit cycling per se, criminalising the shift worker who cycles through the prohibited area at 4.00am with only the pigeons for company.
“Perhaps if the Council looked again at the guidance they might also spot that their proposed ban on skateboarding is also at odds with the guidance, which strongly advises against the banning of activities for young people, such as skateboarding.”
Other towns to have imposed PSPOs targeting cyclists include Bedford, Mansfield and Peterborough, where many cyclists have faced fines.
Earlier this month, we reported how the enforcement firm tasked with patrolling Peterborough had raked in £80,000 in fines for unauthorised cycling in just over a year as part of its contract with the council.
UPDATE!! Some poor young man has been arrested due to this car taking a tumble. The good news is he was released on unconditional bail....
Aye! It's tough for drivers oop in t'North. In Lancashire, even the MOT testing garages can't afford MOTs!
Slow news day?
It's more DuckDuckGo-fu (which is probably closer to being Bing-fu)
Don't get me wrong - I'd love to pay a visit and if I lived there I'm pretty sure I'd use the paths where suitable for my cycle journeys....
Maybe they'll employ some sniffer dogs? Note - it's the City of London rather than being London, the city which would be much better.
I would definitely recommend looking at the hase pino, they do a kit to put kid sized pedals on the front so your child can participate. But unlike...
maybe Rendel really is paying road.cc a small fortune (as chrisonatrike suggested before) which is why there has been silence...
The TQ HPR50 motor is so small that is must be rattling around inside that huge bottom bracket area. I suppose it is some kind of inflection point...
I use a cat ear. I'm profoundly deaf in the right hand side, and it helps with all round awarness with just the one ear.