Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

Mansfield partially relaxes town centre cycling ban

Cyclists will be able to ride in pedestrian zone of Nottinghamshire town from 6pm-10am seven days a week

Mansfield District Council has introduced a partial relaxation of a ban on cycling in the centre of the Nottinghamshire town.

The ban, which previously applied 24 hours a day and was introduced under controversial Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) legislation, sees cyclists who fail to dismount when requested by a council official become liable to a £75 fine.

Under the revised ban, people will be able to cycle in the area subject to it between 6pm and 10am, seven days a week.

The area concerned has also been amended and now comprises all or parts of Stockwell Gate, Westgate, Regent Street, Leeming Street, Church Street, Market Place, Market Street, and Queens Walk.

The changes, which took effect from Monday, have been brought in following a consultation held by the council late last year. The ban was originally brought in to combat antisocial cycling.

Councillor Bill Drewett, portfolio holder for safer communities, said: I carefully considered if the cycling ban in the town centre continued to be justified and proportionate and decided that it does need to apply seven days a week but could be relaxed in the evenings, at night and in the early morning.

"The justification for keeping the town centre free from all traffic – including cyclists – remains unchanged. We want to reduce crime and disorder, protect the environment and we think these measures are conducive to encouraging regeneration and employment."

Cycling UK’s head of campaigns, Duncan Dollimore, said: "While Cycling UK is pleased to see Mansfield is prepared to review its position, we still don’t believe PSPOs should be used to ban people form cycling.

“The council needs to be more precise in how they tackle any problems with anti-social behaviour, on or off bicycles, rather than tarring everyone who chooses a clean and healthy mode of transport with the same brush.

 “With some of the highest levels of obesity in England, Mansfield should look to encourage more physical activity, not discourage it, which is exactly what cycling restrictions can do.”  

The charity is supporting six cyclists in Mansfield who have appealed against the original ban, and Dollimore added: “Cycling UK will discuss the implications of the council’s decision to vary the PSPO with the Mansfield six, and how this affects the court case.”

> Cycling UK backs High Court challenge to Mansfield’s ‘cycling ASBOs’

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

Add new comment

11 comments

Avatar
BikeJon | 6 years ago
0 likes

I get why you wouldn't want cycling in pedestrian zones but we are talking roads here. But if it is really causing such a nuisance and that bad for the community and environment, then perhaps the council should build a proper bike storage lock up, with safe cycle lanes and encourage people to safely leave their bikes there and go around the town on foot. Just banning people from using the best format of transport (IMO) at a time when the town is open makes no sense whatsoever.
It was embarrassing to have the TOB have a stage start here last year.

Avatar
Deeferdonk | 6 years ago
1 like

They could eliminate crime completly if they banned all people from the town centre

Avatar
BikeJon replied to Deeferdonk | 6 years ago
1 like
Deeferdonk wrote:

They could eliminate crime completly if they banned all people from the town centre

Yes, good idea because some people commit crime so this is the best way of dealing with it.

Avatar
Chris Hayes | 6 years ago
1 like

Public Health England Report: Mansfied is one of the 20% most deprived areas in England. Life expectancy is lower than the national average and is a massive 10.4 years lower for men and 9.9 years lower for women in the most deprived areas of Mansfield than the least.  In year 6, 19.8% of children are classified as obese.  Need I go on.  Hang your heads in shame over these figures councillors.

Avatar
don simon fbpe | 6 years ago
1 like

protecting the environment =/= increased pollution.

Jus' sayin'

Avatar
brooksby replied to don simon fbpe | 6 years ago
0 likes

don simon wrote:

protecting the environment =/= increased pollution.

Jus' sayin'

Fair enough.  So, how does banning cycling protect the environment?  Or are they using "protect the environment" as some sort of code phrase for "let people walk/drive without having to look where they're going"?

Avatar
Chris Hayes | 6 years ago
3 likes

I guess the council member responsible for this nonsense is too busy stuffing his/her face with chips to engage in a sensible conversation with the cycling community.....

Avatar
BehindTheBikesheds | 6 years ago
1 like

Yet more bollocks, it's already infringing the law as it stands.

Avatar
Spike64 | 6 years ago
6 likes

Meanwhile vehicle access to market traders etc within the same pedestrian area is allowed from 4.00pm.

Environmental and safety poppycock!!

Avatar
brooksby | 6 years ago
3 likes

Can the member with the portfolio for safer communities please remind me of what pollution is caused by bicycles, so we can better understand why a ban on cycling would reduce it...

Avatar
n_g | 6 years ago
6 likes

"The justification for keeping the town centre free from all traffic – including cyclists – remains unchanged. We want to reduce crime and disorder, protect the environment [...]"

If that's true, then why is it OK for cyclists to spread crime and disorder and pollute the environment between 6pm and 10am ?

 

Latest Comments