Campaigners protest outside council offices against proposed park cycle lane and loss of car parking; Police announce successful recovery of a bike; New pro cycling reform group gathers momentum + more on the live blog

The proposed £2.35 million bike lane through Bath’s Royal Victoria Park has turned into one of the longest-running sagas we’ve covered this year.

When we first wrote about the story in the summer, it was as much due to the unique situation of the local Green Party opposing the protected, active travel infrastructure, arguing that the contraflowing cycle lane, protected by kerbs from traffic, was “socially unsafe”.

But as a minority party on Bath and North East Somerset Council, they couldn’t prevent the Lib Dem-led authority giving the project the green light.

Only a fortnight later however, the work was stalled when it emerged the council had forgotten to respond to a formal objection. That objection has now escalated into a judicial review. Ryan wrote the latest, most detailed summary of the whole thing a couple of weeks ago…

> “It’s a tragedy to misrepresent the council’s efforts”: Campaigners seek judicial review to stop controversial cycle lane through park – but local authority claims cyclists “have voiced their support”

What started as criticism from fellow cycling and active travel campaigners has swelled into a broader anti-bike lane, anti-council campaign. And last night that campaign became a protest that led the BBC Points West news.

Around 200 people gathered outside the council offices, many brandishing placards calling for the removal of the Lib Dem councillors behind the proposal, criticising the proposed loss of car parking spaces, and discussing protecting children.

Campaigners against the bike lane have also been circulating a petition calling on the council “to pause implementation of the cycle lane scheme and reconsider its design, cost and impact on access to this much-loved public park.

“We ask the council to:

• Pause the cycle lane works and associated parking removal while the decision is reviewed publicly.
• Demonstrate the need for the proposed route, publishing evidence of current and expected cycling demand, the shortcomings of existing routes and the alternatives considered.
• Publish a detailed breakdown of the £2.35 million scheme budget, distinguishing the cycle lane from pavement, crossing, lighting and accessibility improvements, and explaining funding restrictions and future maintenance costs.
• Explain the practical impact of parking changes, including the exact number and location of spaces lost and retained, peak-period demand and walking distances from alternative parking to the play area and Botanical Gardens.
• Publish the safety and accessibility assessments, addressing the contraflow layout, pedestrian crossings, children near the play area and personal safety after dark.
• Explain how consultation objections influenced the approved design, and hold an accessible public meeting where residents, cyclists, families, disabled visitors and other park users can question the proposals before further implementation.”

Well, I suppose if you don’t ask you don’t get, although it’s hard to see quite how all of those aims can be reconciled with the council’s belief that “removing the cycle lane element would be a missed opportunity to give new cyclists a safe place to learn, gain confidence and ride into the city”.

The council also has the support of the city’s incumbent Bicycle mayor and the chair of the Bath Cycling Club. No wonder it looks like this will be resolved in court…

Things don’t seem well at British Cycling…

> Matthew Richardson accused of repeatedly using the n-word and making offensive and homophobic remarks to teammates