Come on cyclists, don't give us all a bad name!!

I love riding around Eastbourne in all weathers and today was no exception, despite the heavy rain shower in the middle of the afternoon.

I was almost home when I reached the traffic lights at Stone Cross, there was a rather long queue of traffic, but I waited patiently and joined the queue, only for the lights to turn red (rather too quick) again. So I slowly made my way to the front of the lights and stopped in the section for cyclists; however another cyclist passed me, went through the red light, up on to the pavement and then across the road, via a traffic island. But who was this person dressed in dark clothing, not wearing a cycle helmet, with a shopping bag hanging from each handle of his bike?

Was it a teenager on a BMX? No.

Was it an awesome dude on a full suspension mountain bike? No.

Was it was a MAMIL (Middle Aged Man In Lycra) on a road bike? No.

It was in fact an elderly gentleman on a hybrid bike.

My point is that it doesn't matter what age you are or what bike you are on, please respect the rules of the road. I'd hate to think what a car driver would be going through right now if he or she had hit you, let alone your own personal injuries and the effect that a collision would have on your family and friends.

Us cyclists get a bad press at times and we don't always help ourselves. We can share space with others if that space is respected. I'm afraid there isn't always the money to put us in segregated cycle lanes with high electrocuted fences and machine gun nests to stop us going near pavements (I know I'm being sarcastic). 

One last thing.... someone shouted at me a few weeks ago that I should "Pay my B****y road tax!" What made me laugh was the fact that the driver was in a Toyota Prius!!!

The problem (or not) with cycling on Eastbourne seafront

It's been 18 months since I began cycling regularly, in that time I have completed 2 London to Brighton Bike rides, ridden over 1,500 miles, joined Eastbourne Rovers cycling club, lost over a stone and a half in weight and become totally addicted to cycling. 

For me there are so many positives to be had by getting out on the road, I would be lost without my bike(s).

One thing that has taken me by surprise, are the polar views that cycling and cyclists provoke.

Some pro-cyclists appear to believe that we have a right to cycle everywhere and that motorists are the anti-Christ, whilst some anti-cyclists appear to believe that cyclists are a menace, who cycle through all red lights, knock over pedestrians and have a general disregard for the Highway Code.

A storm has been brewing in Eastbourne over cycling on the seafront.

In May 2014 Eastbourne Borough Council voted in favour of amending a local bylaw that prohibits cycling on the promenade between Fishermen's Green and the Wish Tower; however this will take several more months to come into effect.

In the meantime the debate on seafront cycling has reached fever pitch in local newspapers, online and in social media.

One month ago a four year old girl was knocked down by cyclists on the seafront, unfortunately she was left with facial injuries and cuts to her legs. The two people on bikes hurled abuse at the girls mother and rode off. This is not an everyday occurance, but it has added fuel to the fire for those in the "Against seafront cycling" camp.

One person tweeted this (The image is of the girl who was injured by the cyclists); it's not exactly a balanced view!!

The letter pages of the local newspapers has been a battleground of those for and against seafront cycling, with quotes such as;

"Come on Eastbourne Council, live in the real world where there has to be an area people can walk without having to look over their shoulder. Cars and bikes on the road and people on the pavement its quite simple I suppose what it does do for the council is avoid them having a patrol which as I have to see to make sure the no cycling is kept to"

"There is a huge variety of people who cycle, not just a tiny minority of anti-social louts. And many more people would cycle but don’t because traffic seems dangerous."

The problem with the area of the promenade (between Fisherman's Green and the Wish Tower) is that there simply isn't enough room at times for both pedestrians and cyclists (even with a painted cycle lane). Eastbourne promenade isn't wide enough, it is bustling with tourists and residents during the summer months, as a runner, I have problems trying to jog through the crowds, let alone cycle through them!!

It would be a better idea if East Sussex County Council put a dedicated cycle lane on Marine Parade and Grand Parade (separated from motor vehicles). The road is very wide in places and in my opinion, this would work well. The problem is that it would also be very expensive, but I am sure that some capital spending could be found.

As a temporary solution, seafront cycling could be allowed from October to May, this would allow cyclists to use the promenade in quieter months and help protect pedestrians in the busier summer months.

Whatever the solutions, both pro-cyclists and anti-cyclists need to find some middle ground and stop throwing mud at each other. 

One thing I would ask of the anti-cyclists "Have you tried cycling on our busy roads lately?" Because I am sure if they experience the minefields of obstacles and hazards on our roads, they might just open their eyes!! 

Lib Dems and local transport don't appear to go together around Eastbourne?

Last week the Lib Dem MP for Lewes, Norman Baker announced his support for the "Willingdon Chord", a stretch of railway track that would bypass Eastbourne. Many of Eastbourne's key figures believe that this will have a damaging effect on the town, not least because the train service for East Sussex's largest town and its 100,000 residents would suffer; however the current MP for Eastbourne, Lib Dem Stephen Lloyd appeared to sidestep the topic, stating that he would prefer a fast train from Eastbourne to London over the Willingdon Chord, but didn't dismiss Mr Baker's plans.

It is my understanding that Mr Baker and Mr Lloyd don't see eye to eye on the upgrading of the notorious stretch of road between Lewes and Polegate - the A27. Many residents of Eastbourne have been campaigning for the upgrading of the A27, the Conservative parliamentary candidate for Eastbourne, Caroline Ansell and the Conservative Councillor Patrick Warner have been campaigning for the upgrade of the troubled stretch of road for several years. In fact their campaigning appears to have woken Mr Lloyd from from his slumber over the matter. Mr Lloyd has been gathering signatures on his petition to dual the A27 and even has bumper stickers on offer too!! Meanwhile Mrs Ansell has been speaking directly to the Transport Minister Patrick McLoughlin to press for the case to upgrade the road. It is my understanding that Mr Lloyd has been lobbying quietly over the matter...The problem there Mr Lloyd is, if you talk too quietly, nobody will here you. 

Call me cynical, but perhaps the looming General Election has something to do with Mr Lloyd's wake up call!!

But, I'm not so sure that Mr Baker agrees with Mr Lloyd, on a recent BBC Sussex radio progamme Mr Baker speculated that the currently unspecified upgrades would cost in excess of £200 million pounds, involve the creation of a separate road running alongside the existing one, increase pollution, damage special countryside and said that instead of wasting money on upgrading the A27, we should follow the example set by his friend and colleague, the MP for Eastbourne, Stephen Lloyd who was focusing his attention on job creation through supporting apprenticeships. Mind you without sustainable transport links businesses in Eastbourne will suffer and so would the number of apprenticeship placements.
The only noticeable contributions to the A27 that I have seen from Mr Baker are ridiculous signs notifying you that it only takes 20 minutes from Eastbourne to Lewes on the train. Well that isn't much comfort to anyone stuck in a traffic jam on the road because of an accident and believe it or not, not everyone using the road wants to travel to Lewes!!

East Sussex is a wonderfully rural part of our country and it shouldn't be indiscriminately concreted over, but it shouldn't be left it the past either.
Both road and rail links need to be improved in and around Eastbourne, but these must benefit the residents of the county's largest town too. How many more people have to be seriously injured or killed on the road before something is done? I don't have too much confidence in our current MP's for Lewes and Eastbourne; after all, with friends like Mr Baker, who needs enemies Mr Lloyd?