Colchester City Council Archives

Colchester City Council

Head Street, Colchester (Colchester Cycling Campaign)

Fines issued to pavement cyclists will be based on “behaviour, not location” says council, in town where female cyclist was fined £100 for riding on cycle path and others threatened with £1,000 penalties by “cowboy wardens”

The local authority, which apologised and waived fines issued to “responsible” cyclists after backlash from campaigners, says the focus will now be on “education first”

Head Street cycle lane, Colchester (Essex Highways)

Local High Steward blames congestion on new “cycle-only” traffic light on bike lane which services “very few cyclists”… but data shows over 400 cyclists using it every day, with cycling levels continuing to rise

The former Lib Dem MP said that cyclists should manually activate the light on the controversial bike lane, however the council said that it will continue to run automatically so “no one goes undetected and gets stuck on a red light”

“We are sorry if we have not always got it right”: Council waives penalties for cyclists fined by “cowboy” wardens for riding on pavements and town centre streets

The local authority admitted that “responsible” cyclists were issued £100 fines despite not committing a “significant breach” of the city’s PSPO, and that education – not fines – should be prioritised

St Botolph’s roundabout, Colchester (Google)

“Rogue” wardens accused of “lying in wait” for cyclists riding on pavement beside busy roundabout, as two cyclists fined £100 for breaching anti-social cycling order at same spot

The wardens belong to the same agency that mistakenly fined a female cyclist for riding on a shared-use path in the city earlier this year

New protected cycle lane – in city where cyclist was fined for riding on bike path – slammed as “accident waiting to happen for pedestrians” that will “cause carnage on the roads”

However, a local cycling group says the new bike lane will “revolutionise people’s journeys”, coaxing them out of their cars, and giving “thousands” of children the “choice” to cycle to school everyday

“Obstacle course” cycle junction a “ruse to drive motorists out of the town”, claim drivers – but cyclists praise long-awaited layout change

The council said it understood some concerns, but stressed the road markings have been designed to “help cyclists navigate the different routes” and were subject to a road safety audit before installation

Shared cycle path along Southway, Colchester (Colchester Cycling Campaign)

“Why pick on a lone female cyclist?” Cyclist slapped with £100 fine – for riding on a cycle path

The council warden claimed the cyclist was riding on a footway, despite the route being clearly marked as a shared-use path since 2011, enabling the cyclist to successfully appeal the fine for “anti-social behaviour”