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Bournemouth Borough Council rules out promenade cycle lanes as 'Prom Wars' continue

Council says that issue of how cyclists and pedestrians can safely share space on seafront is the most "divisive challenge we have"...

Bournemouth Borough Council has rejected a call for a separate cycle lane to be installed on the Dorset resort’s promenade – but acknowledges that the presence of bike riders on parts of the seafront “is perhaps the most commentated on and divisive challenge we have.”

It’s one that has resulted in cyclists being banned from some parts of the promenade year-round, and from the entire length of it from 10am to 6pm in July and August in what has been dubbed 'Prom Wars'..

Where cyclists are allowed to ride on it and share space with people on foot, they are required to give pedestrians priority. Nevertheless, there are regularly calls for the ban on cycling to be extended.

In last month’s council meeting, held on Tuesday 24, July, Conservative councillor and local hotel owner Gina Mackin suggested that the solution might lie in providing separate space for those on bikes and people on foot, reports the Bournemouth Echo.

But Councillor Pat Oakley, who holds the Tourism, Leisure & The Arts portfolio in the Conservative-controlled council’s cabinet, told her that despite examining separation a number of times, he believed the current approach was the appropriate one.

He said: “The issue of cycling on our seafront is perhaps the most commentated on and divisive challenge we have.

“The option of a cycle lane has been looked at in detail several times and has always been discounted because it would cause more conflict between cyclists and pedestrians with them both claiming their own space and would, indeed, encourage cyclists to cycle faster.

“Much of the pedestrian traffic on the promenade is across the prom – children from the beach huts to the sea and beach and so on – and implementing a route which gives cyclists the right of way will only exacerbate the current issues.

“The current system of shared space generally works well and the pedestrian has clear priority.

“The safety issue with regards to cycling is more to do with speed.”

His comments about the polarisation of opinion relating to cycling on the promenade are borne out by the number of times we have reported on the topic here at road.cc over the past decade.

In 2009, the council deployed speed guns as part of an operation designed at encouraging cyclists to ride at no more than 10 miles per hour on the prom, where there are signs advising of the speed limit.

Dozens of cyclists were stopped during the four-day operation and while the cyclists could not be fined, police officers and council officials gave them “safety advice” – something that national cyclists’ organisation CTC (now Cycling UK) described at the time as “ridiculous.”

> 69 cyclists caught in Bournemouth 'speed trap'

Lat weekend, the council temporarily lifted the ban on cycling along the promenade in the two peak summer months due to a ‘Bike To Bestival’ charity ride from the town to the festival further west along the coast in Lulworth – something that, according to this article, had “several concerned readers” contacting the Bournemouth Echo.

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.

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21 comments

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alansmurphy | 5 years ago
1 like

jh27 wrote:

 

An important point to remember is that cyclists don't have priority on cycle lanes.  Where there is a segregated cycle / foot path, cyclists are required to use the cycle lane - whereas pedestrians can legally walk where they like (as our laws currently stand).  So even if there is a pedestrian blocking the cycle path, you are not legally permitted to enter the footpath to go around them (at least, not without first dismounting).

 

 

I close pass them and feature regularly on walk.cc!

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alansmurphy | 5 years ago
0 likes

 

Though cycle lanes can be problematic, they need to think more. Don't just get the paint out, use kerbs, have crossing points in the kerb system but with the onus on the pedestrian just like they were crossing a road. There may be kids moving from the ridiculous beach huts to the beach, but maybe just maybe they could learn and turn into decent human beings as they grow.

 

Cycled around there last May, had a work conference, hired a cruising bike from a hut on the front, very enjoyable. Some would say it was a good part of my experience of Bournemouth!

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ChrisB200SX | 5 years ago
1 like

Well, they did try to ban sleeping on the town's benches. Says it all about there attitude to issues that they have a responsibility to improve.

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brooksby | 5 years ago
1 like

The local paper's article is actually quite funny. On the one hand

The festival’s Bike to Bestival project will see some 70 riders and 20 marshals travel the 25 miles from Bournemouth to the event in Lulworth,

and yet

Several concerned readers contacted the Echo about the proposal. One, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “The council are allowing the Bike to Bestival event to take place on the seafront during the cycling ban.

Hundreds of cyclists will ride along promenade in the middle of the day even though there is a ban in place.”

I suspect the council's whole attitude to cycling is summed up in the article by Councillor Pat Oakley, cabinet member for tourism and leisure, who said

"This is an organised event which has been properly risk assessed and allows a convoy of approximately 68 participating cyclists to travel at slow speed along the promenade, starting from Boscombe going through to Sandbanks.

The convoy will dismount and walk in highly congested areas and all cyclists will be wearing high vis jackets and will be escorted by 20 Marshalls, a ratio of around three to one.”

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jh27 | 5 years ago
3 likes

My personal opinion on cycle lanes is that the vast majority of them make things worse for cyclists.  Mostorists don't feel the need to leave a safe passing distance if the cyclist is in a cycle lane - but they are rarely wide enough for a cyclist for a car to pass at a safe distance - except perhaps when cycle is at the extreme left of their lane and the motorist is at the extreme right of their lane (assuming an average width car).  Our roads are rarely wide to do cycle lanes properly.  Where I live quite a number of roads have recently been converted to a 20 limit.  I think this is a good solution, I doubt it makes a lot of difference to the average speed of the motorised traffic and enough motorists seem to obey the 20 limit for it to be effective - I've only had one bad experience, where I was overtaken by a white van on a blind bend - which wouldn't be so bad, but I was cycling at about 25 at the time, I easily caught up (and overtook him) at the next junction.

The only thing I don't like about 20 limits, as a motorist, is that my cruise control only works at 25mph and above - in a 30 zone, I'll set my speed at or below the speed limit.  With cruise control I don't need to worry about maintaining a legal speed, I can cover my brakes the whole time and I get better fuel consumption.

The thing that will really improve the experience of everyday cyclists* in this country is critical mass (lower case).  If everyone who currently cycles on the pavement cycled on the road, it would have have a significant calming effect on traffic.

 

* I should admit, although I like to read and post on road.cc, and I cycle on the road, I'm not a Road Cyclist - the vast majority of my cycling is commuting on my hybrid bike (which is sorely in need of an upgrade).

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Deeferdonk replied to jh27 | 5 years ago
2 likes

jh27 wrote:

The only thing I don't like about 20 limits, as a motorist, is that my cruise control only works at 25mph and above - in a 30 zone, I'll set my speed at or below the speed limit.  With cruise control I don't need to worry about maintaining a legal speed, I can cover my brakes the whole time and I get better fuel consumption.

I don't think you should be using cruise control in a 30/20mph built up area type of environment. It's not that hard to stick to the speed limit.

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jh27 replied to Deeferdonk | 5 years ago
0 likes

Deeferdonk wrote:

jh27 wrote:

The only thing I don't like about 20 limits, as a motorist, is that my cruise control only works at 25mph and above - in a 30 zone, I'll set my speed at or below the speed limit.  With cruise control I don't need to worry about maintaining a legal speed, I can cover my brakes the whole time and I get better fuel consumption.

I don't think you should be using cruise control in a 30/20mph built up area type of environment. It's not that hard to stick to the speed limit.

Cruise control allows you to ensure you are within the speed limit, without the need to take your eyes of the road to check your speedometer, once it is set.  It also allows you to cover the brakes, greatly decreasing reaction time - and at 20 - 30 MPH, a large part of the stopping time for car is reaction time.

Also the small adjustments to throttle and brake required to maintain a steady speed have quite a significant impact on fuel consumption.  Cruise control manages to achieve better consumption - at least in my hybrid.

I find 20 is a very difficult speed to maintain in a car.  In a geared car, you can leave it in second and that generally does the trick, but in a hybrid with a continuously variable transmission and often no engine noise to guide you, it is more taxing.

Cruise control isn't about disengaging with your driving and letting the car take over, it is about letting the car take over one aspect (maintaining speed) of the driving so that you can pay more attention to other aspects of your driving.  I drive with my foot over the break pedal, perhaps 90% of the time (when the car is in motion), but I barely ever touch it - generally only when coming to a complete stop or when something unexpected (or less expected) happens.

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pockstone | 5 years ago
4 likes

 

 '...bike riders on parts of the seafront “is perhaps the most commentated on and divisive challenge we have.”

Really? Time for a rethink of priorities:

'Bournemouth has one of the highest rates of heroin and morphine misuse deaths'

Bournemouth Daily Echo, Apr. 6

'Rough sleeping in Bournemouth increases 300 per cent in eight-year period'

Bournemouth Daily Echo, Jan 27

Avatar
Deeferdonk replied to pockstone | 5 years ago
1 like

pockstone wrote:

 

 '...bike riders on parts of the seafront “is perhaps the most commentated on and divisive challenge we have.”

Really? Time for a rethink of priorities:

'Bournemouth has one of the highest rates of heroin and morphine misuse deaths'

Bournemouth Daily Echo, Apr. 6

'Rough sleeping in Bournemouth increases 300 per cent in eight-year period'

Bournemouth Daily Echo, Jan 27

i'm not sure you can class these as divisive issues. i think just about everybody agrees that drug abuse and homelessness are not ideal.

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wheelmeals | 5 years ago
2 likes

The Summer ban works ok, a cycle lane would be a disaster and cause a lots of accidents for all parties. It's not a traditional cycling lane route, more a extension of the beach/bit in front of beach huts, with lots of kids, day trippers constantly criss crossing.  

If you read Road.cc and are any way serious about cycling as mentioned above, you wouldn't cycle on the promnade as is totally rammed. Not to mention also has a 10mph speed limit (and you'll kill your drivetrain with sand). Ok for a Sunrise or Sundown warm up/down though if you must.

Rarely see Road cyclists on here, mainly is for local commuters as is a good cut through for those not coinfident about cycling on roads. 

So a better solution would be more cycle lanes on the road.  

Fair play to Bournmouth Council for the recent signs on giving cyclists space (first I've seen in the UK)

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Chapo | 5 years ago
3 likes

Yes. Bikes don't have a place on the promenade at all during the Summer months.

And there should be some kind of restriction on speed at other times.

I don't see any reason for a cyclist to ride at speed down the promenade - just doesn't seem to be the right place to do it.

Mind you - cyclists should not be the only ones scrutinized - there should be some sort of thought also given to roller-skaters, skate boarders as well.

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slow_going replied to Chapo | 5 years ago
3 likes

finkcreative wrote:

Yes. Bikes don't have a place on the promenade at all during the Summer months.

And there should be some kind of restriction on speed at other times.

I don't see any reason for a cyclist to ride at speed down the promenade - just doesn't seem to be the right place to do it.

Mind you - cyclists should not be the only ones scrutinized - there should be some sort of thought also given to roller-skaters, skate boarders as well.

 

"At all' is rather broad; I cycle along there between 7 and 8 am (eg well before the 10am cut-off) and it is no different to during the winter in terms of the number of pedestrians. Given that this is also the period when council vans, sand moving tractors, and some local business delivery is going on along there I don't think the presence of cycles commuting at sensible speeds (the majority in my experince) at that time is a problem.

When its full of people its not pleasent to cycle on anyway - including during the day in June when its technically allowed. So I don't.

The problem though is that there is far more noise and political interest to just 'ban bicycles' from the prom than there is to provide safer alternative routes. And its incredibly frustrating to be told by the same council who are quick to elevate the situation on the prom based on letters to the Echo, that improvements to road safety at - for example - specific junctions and roundabouts in Bournemouth cannot be prioritised if there are not enough KSIs.

 

 

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Paul_C | 5 years ago
3 likes

should make the roads behind the promenade cycle friendly then by making them access only with barriers to vehicles (except emergency vehicles, there are things called rising bollards), taking away that on-street parking and converting that whole lane of parking into a two way cycle track, segregated of course....

 

as for the parking, the best thing for the environment would be to provide far more park and ride spaces.

 

Oh wait, that would require spending real money...

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ChrisB200SX | 5 years ago
3 likes

Good points above. A cycle lane could only make things worse. But they need to remove the ban, it's pointless. The ones they are trying to keep out are mostly the ones that will ignore the ban.

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jh27 | 5 years ago
7 likes

Parts of Bournemouth promenade can be heaving during the summer and no one in their right mind would cycle through it. It would be worse than trying to put a cycle path in the middle of a busy pedestrianised high street.

An important point to remember is that cyclists don't have priority on cycle lanes.  Where there is a segregated cycle / foot path, cyclists are required to use the cycle lane - whereas pedestrians can legally walk where they like (as our laws currently stand).  So even if there is a pedestrian blocking the cycle path, you are not legally permitted to enter the footpath to go around them (at least, not without first dismounting).

Something that very few people understand, is that cyclists are much more at risk from pedestrians than the other way around (I'm recovering from a fractured wrist that is testament to that).  All things being equal, the cyclist will come off worst in most collisions. The vast majority of cyclists on a shared path (or main road for that matter) will be very alert to pedestrians and wary of them - pedestrians on the other hand tend to be oblivious.  Prohibitions against cycling therefore do a lot more to protect cyclists than they do to protect pedestrians.

When I see someone riding on a pavement when they shouldn't be or riding in the double yellows - I think they are short changing themselves and treating themselves as second class road users.  They are probably the same people who give cyclists on the road zero respect, because they don't think bicycyles should be on the road.

One last thing... I remember reading about a (elderly) woman who suffered a fractured hip after being involved in a collision with a cyclist.  I beleive this was on Bournemouth prom.  She dodged out of the way of an oncoming cyclist who she could see approaching, into the path of a cyclist who was approaching from behind.  The thing that both she and the journalist failed to appreciate is that both cyclists were probably fully aware of her and if she hadn't suddenly changed direction without even glancing over her shoulder, everyone would have been fine (I'm not saying the cyclists were at fault - I try to always give priority to the cyclist who the pedestrian can see, so would have waited back).

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jaysa replied to jh27 | 5 years ago
0 likes

jh27 wrote:

... An important point to remember is that cyclists don't have priority on cycle lanes.  Where there is a segregated cycle / foot path, cyclists are required to use the cycle lane - whereas pedestrians can legally walk where they like (as our laws currently stand).  So even if there is a pedestrian blocking the cycle path, you are not legally permitted to enter the footpath to go around them (at least, not without first dismounting). ...

Thank you - I didnt know that ...

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Jitensha Oni replied to jaysa | 5 years ago
1 like

jaysa wrote:

jh27 wrote:

... An important point to remember is that cyclists don't have priority on cycle lanes.  Where there is a segregated cycle / foot path, cyclists are required to use the cycle lane - whereas pedestrians can legally walk where they like (as our laws currently stand).  So even if there is a pedestrian blocking the cycle path, you are not legally permitted to enter the footpath to go around them (at least, not without first dismounting). ...

Thank you - I didnt know that ...

I did, but one thing has always puzzled me. Given the ridiculously narrow width of many segregated cycle paths of the painted white line variety, and assuming no pedestrains are around, if a bunch of riders meets another bunch of riders coming in the opposite direction and there isn't enough room - let's say everyone is riding cargo bikes - who should dismount, and why? Since not entering the footway side is a MUST in the HC, we need some guidance.

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madcarew replied to Jitensha Oni | 5 years ago
1 like

Jitensha Oni wrote:

jaysa wrote:

jh27 wrote:

... An important point to remember is that cyclists don't have priority on cycle lanes.  Where there is a segregated cycle / foot path, cyclists are required to use the cycle lane - whereas pedestrians can legally walk where they like (as our laws currently stand).  So even if there is a pedestrian blocking the cycle path, you are not legally permitted to enter the footpath to go around them (at least, not without first dismounting). ...

Thank you - I didnt know that ...

I did, but one thing has always puzzled me. Given the ridiculously narrow width of many segregated cycle paths of the painted white line variety, and assuming no pedestrains are around, if a bunch of riders meets another bunch of riders coming in the opposite direction and there isn't enough room - let's say everyone is riding cargo bikes - who should dismount, and why? Since not entering the footway side is a MUST in the HC, we need some guidance.

The guidance is "use a bit of courtesy and common sense", same as 'which car should give way / mount the verge when 2 cars meet on a narrow lane'?

 

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Dnnnnnn replied to madcarew | 5 years ago
0 likes

madcarew wrote:

The guidance is "use a bit of courtesy and common sense", same as 'which car should give way / mount the verge when 2 cars meet on a narrow lane'?

[/quote]

Good guidance for most things in life - if only it was universally adopted!

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srchar replied to jh27 | 5 years ago
2 likes

jh27 wrote:

Where there is a segregated cycle / foot path, cyclists are required to use the cycle lane - whereas pedestrians can legally walk where they like (as our laws currently stand).  So even if there is a pedestrian blocking the cycle path, you are not legally permitted to enter the footpath to go around them (at least, not without first dismounting).

Interesting. Enfield council's new (and crap) cycle lanes through Palmers Green are completely unusable for this very reason.  Of course, if you use the road, you'll get shouted at to "gerrin the fackin bike lane you caaahnt", while the better informed person-using-a-bike-haters will shout "we spent thirty million quid on bike lanes for you caaahnts".

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BehindTheBikesheds | 5 years ago
2 likes

What's the evidence of cyclists going faster and if they have their own lane then surely that segregation makes it better for pedestrians no?

They don't object to motorists doing over 30mph in the vicinity and give them a 2way 12metre wide road to use, are they of the opinion that these people go faster because they have their own strip to do as they want, if so then why are you not remoiving it from them (motorists), you know because it would be safer for everyone to do so!

The hypocrisy and anti cycling BS is there in droves but is not surprising.

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