Cycling ban to be reinforced by police in New Walk Leicester

“New Walk forms part of my regular commute to work. I cycle most of the way but dismount to use New Walk not because of the ridiculous no cycling bylaw which in my opinion is outdated but because a few years ago I was deliberately pushed off my bike by an angry pedestrian. I think those who feel New Walk should remain pedestrian free should try for themselves cycling on London Road, Regent Road or Welford Road in busy traffic. Most days by the time I reach New Walk I have had at least one near miss on the short road section of my commute. I really don't think people realise just how dangerous cycling can be in Leicester and a simple solution would be to provide a segregated safe cycling route along New Walk. The police who patrol the area could then concentrate on the minority of cyclists behaving irresponsibly. There are many other shared routes in the city and county which operate fine with the following rules: Cyclists should ride considerately on these paths, slowing down and alerting pedestrians to their presence as early as possible. Pedestrians should be aware of cyclists' presence in this area, and that there is no designated part of the path for a cyclist to ride, so they may be passed on either side.
A shared path means exactly that, it is for use by everyone, so using it in a safe and courteous manner is important. (Taken from city and county cycle maps) A segregated cycle path would be even safer.”

“The police only there on new walk now and again when PC COX says so yes police on cutbacks bring back the mobile phone they used have it did not cost then anything its no good trying to talk teach people employ cycle wardens then let fines roll in to coffers will PC COX tell me M Burbidge in the high way code it says you can cycle on pavements IE - city center stop all cycle ling on pavements”

“I had a friend, are you out there Mr Shimin?

Being a law abiding sort of chap decided to ride his bike down London road, instead of taking the far safer option of riding it down the very broad New Walk.

Upshot was, some women who had parked on the left hand side of London road opened her door without checking her mirror and Mr Shimin rode into it, being a big bloke, he did a lot of damage to his legs and was hospitalised for ages.

Why isn't there a cycle way painted on the -->very<-- broad New Walk and some kind of speed limit?”

“You really are a lucky lot, if all you have to worry and moan about, is a few push bikes on New Walk.”

“There is plenty of room for a cycle way on the west side of London Road- cyclists don't want to cycle on LR because of the unenforced double yellow lines so you have to come out into the other lane into traffic descending the hill.

what if citical mass have done a couple of rides? People cycle individually.

As a cyclist of years experience in Leicester this problem is down to attitude of other road users, the lack of will to tackle the issue by providing alternative provision and the point that cyclists should ride on LR / RR -we have a right to be there so ride there this might make the powers that be consider a way on LR.”

“@ Mike and @David.

Why the ad hominem attacks? the message from Critical Mass wasn't making any demands that I could see. Calling people lazy and arrogant when they've not suggested they support law-breakers?

There are options with this route. A cycle lane, a speed limit, a cycle lane along Regent Road, etc. clearly there's not going to be the money for a bridge on Princess Street unless that bridge has another purpose other than 'just' a cycle route.

Many dual-use routes exist in the city centre - The entire pedestrianised shopping area is a legal cycle route.

Some people are intimidated on some roads - even experienced riders use their disgression in route planning. Less experienced riders often take to the pavement - and clearly nobody wants this to be the case.”

“Mike, what you say is indeed true. So surely a cycle lane along New walk would be a beneficial then?
Yes car door accidents can happen everywhere and they do, but we are pointing out that if it happens on a main road, like Regents, the chances of just picking yourself up afterward are lowered. Near misses probably don't count as evidence, do you want blood to prove that it is indeed dangerous?
Critical Mass is about getting adults and children alike onto the roads, with their bikes, to help build their confidence when cycling on the roads (and not pavements) And also for traffic to notice that us cyclists are traffic too.
I use both London Road and Regents road, every day, commuting to and from work on my bike. I also use Narborough, Upperton and Fosse road, none of these have cycle lanes either. However I feel confident enough to ride on them with out.
I have near misses everyday. And cars are not always the ones causing them. It's pedestrians walking out in front of me as they simply cross the roads with their ears only and do not LOOK. I would rather that the money being spent on the 'NO Cycling' signs be spent on ones saying
'Pedestrians, be aware of the silent vehicles too'”

“My understanding is that cyclists can walk with their bikes along New Walk so what is the problem?

This is all to do with the selfish and ignorant attitudes to authority. It has already been explained this passage way has been a "vehicle free" zone since 1785, ignore at your peril!!

There is absolutely no need nor justification for cycling along this avenue.”

“Critical Mass - that's a straw man argument. It's not residents of New Walk who are objecting to the cyclists, it's all the many, many people who walk along New Walk into or out of town every day and would like to be able to do so without having to worry about thoughtless idiots hurtling past them at close range and high speed.

All this constant bleating about London Road or Regent Road being dangerous never seems to be backed up by any actual evidence (Todd's example of a car door doesn't mean the road is dangerous - that could happen anywhere). If these roads are so dangerous, how are so many cyclists able to ride along them every day without a problem? If people on your group ride said they only felt safe en masse that just shows how poor many people are at judging what is or isn't dangerous.

But the fact remains that if someone with a bicycle wants to get into town from the South and doesn't want to cycle along Regent Road or London Road for whatever reason, they are entirely capable of *pushing their bike along New Walk*. What's that going to add to their journey? Five minutes? Selfish, arrogant and lazy, these are people who want to abdicate responsibility for their own safety by placing the responsibility onto more vulnerable people - pedestrians.”

“New Walk is a very contentious route when it comes to cycling in Leicester - people who dislike cyclists for whatever reason get very heated whether they use this route them selves or not.

A few years a letter was published in Mercury's letter page where the author had promised to punch a cyclist who'd written in supporting his decision to ride on this stretch of tarmac.

Cyclists, even many law-abiding ones are intimidated (and as I personally witnessed recently, physically and verbally abused - the police weren't massively interested) while riding on London Road and Regent Road.

Anyone cycling down London Road towards the station takes their life in their hands as they pass De Montfort Street as cars turn right in front of them or pull out to turn in either direction.

Cycling up Regent Road, where even very fit cyclists struggle to keep up with traffic, car parking spaces force cyclists into a narrow and fast moving lane of traffic and cause many conflict points.

These Concerned New Walk residents we hear so much from almost certainly are outnumbered by the number of cyclists each day who either break the law in the interests of self preservation or ride scared on the two alternative routes.

Who are these Concerned New Walk residents and why do they have so much influence and command so many column inches in the Mercury?

According to many people involved actively in cycling, New Walk would have been made a cycle route many years ago,

I have it on good authority that businesses such as the Belmont Hotel are the most vocal of these 'residents'.

Critical Mass Leicester has ridden twice now along the routes either side of New Walk and many of the riders have said that riding in a group of over 100 was the first or only time they've ever felt safe cycling on Regent Road or London Road.

Perhaps some sensible dialoge can be opened as to how to get around this issue? Clearly people are genuinely scared by the alternative routes and clearly some people have genuine concerns about pedestrian safety.

What do you say mr Kitterick? Are you interested in people's safety or do these concerned residents have a case that simply cannot be discussed?”