Bournemouth resident wants summer seafront cycling ban extended year-round

"Personally I don’t want to see a little child killed or injured while I’m out at the beach.”

Right. So you don't want to stop a child being killed, you just don't want to see it while your out at the beach. Well, it would kind of spoil your day, wouldn't it?

"I know there are signs that say there is a 10mph speed limit but people just ignore them."

So,  just like you in your car probably.

"And if you stop them to ask them to slow down or remind them of the speed limit all you get is abuse."

I'd expect you'd get the same response from a motorist if you asked them to slow down.

I was running along Bournemouth promenade a couple of weekends ago... it was packed, I was overtaking cyclists because it was almost impossible for them to navigate around the pedestrians randomly changing direction without looking and walking 5-abreast... not looking where they are going, etc.
The only cyclists I saw any issue with was the little kids who didn't have full control or were just expecting people to get out of their way.

We need more information on the child who nearly got killed, did passers by administer medical attention, did the air ambulance come, what is the child's current condition?

Or does she mean that she saw a child nearly get hit by a bike?

On another note, I don't wish to see old people on the beach, they ruin it for everyone else, am I allowed to call for a ban?

Trouble is, its not a case of 'one rule fits all' . I've been down there at 11am on a cold bleak July morning and not a soul to be seen, quite safe to blitz along at 20mph, in therory breaking the existing rules and risk a fine. Balance that with a glorious May Bank Holiday, the prom packed with all sorts and in theory I could ride along at 10mph and be OK.

A dedicated bike lane is not the answer. The beach huts are on one side of the path and the last thing on anyones mind as they enjoy the sunshine, kids and unleashed dogs running to the beach, is a cyclist travelling at right angle to where they are going.

The bottom line is we need less rules but more consideration for each other. Trust people to do the right thing according to conditions.  Cyclists don't want to use the prom when its heaving so don't impose uneccesary rules on us.

At 8am in the morning, the prom is a perfect route for commuting, year round, so Ms Sprules needs to rethink her selfishness.

Just a thought, but if the adjacent roads provided a safe route for cycling, then maybe they would get more use??

Got to agree that shared paths are a poor effort. I have tried using them in Glasgow and they are stressful (pedestrians, 90 degree turns, poor signage, dead ends, discontinuious etc) - better to ride on the roads?

This is further proof that shared use paths do not mix.
When you drive down the road you are on the left hand side, when someone faster comes along they wait for it to be clear and cross to the right to pass you before pulling back to the left.

When you get a shared use path or pavement, pedestrians wander all over the place. They change direction in a blink of an eye and most dont even seem to hear bells.

I disagree that they should ban cyclists outisde of peak times, but perhaps they should have a segregated path? most promenades are more than wide enough!

I want Bournemouth resident Julie Sproules to get a life. Can that be a headline?

"Won't somebody think of the children?"

I've ridden the Bournemouth prom' in both directions in the school holidays and I wholeheartedly support the current ban on riding during the busy hours.  It is chaotic, little kids are running about in all directions and they should be able to enjoy the beach.  And, to be fair, nobody really needs to cycle along the prom', if you're in a hurry stick to the nearby roads.

But to extend the restriction year-round is plain daft; the place is empty when the cold winds blow and the sun disappears.  

Is Julie Sproules the mayor or something? I'm not sure what the story is actually about.

This is crazy. In San Sebastian they have a cycle lane that's segregated in parts but clearly marked and everyone gets along beautifully. Guess there's always someone intent on being difficult.

There's a sea front promenade where I live.  It has a segregated bike lane , pedestrians by and large respect it and it works very well. Never heard of anyone getting knocked over.  

Then again I don't live in the South of England and there is a mix of age groups here, it isn't a retirement ghetto like Bournemouth.

Quote:

"Only last month I saw a little girl aged about three almost get killed by a cyclist. He had his headphones in as well so couldn’t hear everyone yelling at him to look out. Personally I don’t want to see a little child killed or injured while I’m out at the beach.”

anyone want a game of bulls**t bingo!

If the lady is so concerned i assume she is in favour of banning cars? 

There are idiots who ride bikes, is this not one of the roles of the police? From experience the people most likely to ignore the ban are the ones who are most likely to cause the issues anyway. 

Like Y/Wallet says.  

Why can't they just paint in a cycle lane if people use it all the time? That should be enough to stop people getting run over.