Plenty of active travel ideas, but critics remain
ISLANDERS have plenty of ideas on how to improve cycling and pedestrian infrastructure, including linking the Bridge and Town, and several shared their thoughts on social media.
But there were also those who were critical of cyclists for failing to use what is there now.
The Guernsey Press reached out to its thousands of social media followers yesterday to ask what pedestrian/cycle improvements they would like to see in the island after news that the UK government has committed £2bn to an infrastructure improvement scheme.
Steve Bonsall said it would be great to see a safe network of cycle routes criss-crossing the island. ‘Through many town and cities in Europe, the cyclist has priority on the road and drivers are patient,’ he wrote.
But some islanders were critical of cyclists, saying some do not even use the existing cycle paths and seem to take pride in holding up traffic.
Sammy Jane Naftel wrote: ‘[It] would be amazing if [cyclists] could actually use cycle tracks instead of holding up traffic, especially when there’s five or more, and are oblivious to cars behind them.’
Philip de Garis replied: ‘They are never oblivious – it’s a badge of honour to them to hold up traffic.’
In cyclists’ defence, Brian Aplin responded saying: ‘The main (only) cycle track in Guernsey is a poor design and puts cyclists off using it.’
He said cyclists were rarely oblivious to traffic because they were so vulnerable should an accident happen.
‘Small island, small roads, tens of thousands of cars, everyone in a hurry to get a short distance – the more we can do to promote cycling the better for everyone.’
Guernsey Bicycle Group chairman Sam Field wanted to see Grandes Maisons Road made one-way with a contra-flow cycle path, and New Road dedicated to cycles and residents’ access only.
He said this would create a dedicated cycle lane from the Bridge to Town with virtually no need for cyclists to use a road and would connect the two main economic centres by a continuous cycle path.
Ayrton Hockaday, who drives for a living, said until islanders used what was already available to them, and used it properly, no amount of money spent on dedicated cycling/walking paths was going to make any difference.
On Twitter, Emma Cunningham seemed excited to make suggestions and said she had ‘too many answers’.
‘I want a cycle lane from Iceland at the Bridge to Bulwer Avenue please, also, widen the pedestrian/cycle lane along Les Banques, moving the cycle lane out of the bus stop lay-by which scares the bejesus out of me,’ she wrote.
Another Twitter user, Alasdair Milroy, said there should be routes dedicated for cycling.
Gary Hooks, who has cycled far and wide in the Tour de Sez fundraiser for the Sarah Groves Foundation, had a plan which had nothing to do with infrastructure and would be ‘easy to implement’.
‘There is a huge disadvantage trying to copy other countries or cities because we simply don’t have the available road space or other road options or smoke enough cannabis for it to remain calm,’ he wrote.
‘However, if anyone from the traffic committee or States wished to contact me I’d be super happy to share my ideas.’
n Environment & Infrastructure has been contacted for comment on what Guernsey can learn from the UK’s proposals and whether they would look to follow them.
