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69 cyclists caught in Bournemouth 'speed trap'

Results of four-day prom op announced

A controversial speed camera operation which targeted cyclists using the promenade in Bournemouth resulted in almost 70 riders being stopped.

Police officers and council officials armed with speed guns laid in wait for cyclists exceeding the prescribed 10 mph along the prom, stopping 69 riders in the four-day operation.

The majority were caught in the first two days, as the second two were wet and fewer people were on the prom.

Fines couldn’t be issued as cyclists are unable to monitor their own speed, but those stopped were given ‘safety advice’. The scheme was branded ‘ridiculous’ by the CTC, who said that any speed-related campaign should always be targeted at motorists, not cyclists.

But Charmaine Andrews, Bournemouth Council’s seafront development officer, said: "We received a large number of positive comments regarding this safety initiative and hope that it has raised awareness amongst cyclists of the dangers of speeding on the seafront, to both themselves and pedestrians.

"We want to encourage cyclists to use the seafront, but we want them to take care in doing so and watch their speed."

In July and August, cyclists are only allowed to ride on the promenade before 10am and after 6pm, and there is a shared cycle/pedestrian lane. Two weeks ago, a nine-year-old girl in collision with a cyclist on the prom received cuts and bruises following the impact.

According to the Bournemouth Echo, Scarlett Pledge was washing a bucket and spade under a tap at Branksome Chine when a male rider hit her. Her mother said that she was only saved from more serious injury because a surf board she was carrying protected her against the impact.

Bloggers on the Bournemouth Echo site called for compulsory insurance for all cyclists, but others, including cyclists posting, said extra care needed to be taken when cycling past playing children.

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8 comments

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Kevin Steinhardt | 14 years ago
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I don't think there's a Traffic Regulation Order on the promenade, therefore I don't think there's a speed limit. Even if there was, it would most likely refer to a speed limit for motor vehicles as most of them (correction: all of them) do.

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dave atkinson | 14 years ago
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Quote:

I wonder how many cyclists and pedestrians are killed or injured in Bournemouth every year on the roads?

in 2007 (the latest figures available), 38 people were killed or seriously injured cycling on the roads of Bournemouth. There were 114 casualties overall.

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OldRidgeback | 14 years ago
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I wonder how many cyclists and pedestrians are killed or injured in Bournemouth every year on the roads? Surely scarce police resources would be better employed tackling that issue?

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nickharvey | 14 years ago
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Cyclists and pedestrians, what's the difference?
Perhaps Bournemouth Council has it in for cyclists because its bid to be a 'Cycling Demonstration Town' was rejected?

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Coodsta | 14 years ago
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That's Bournemouth for you! the council has been doing this on the quiet for several years. There will always be problems with shared routes especially as the traffic on the prom not only goes along it but across it. Mostly in the form of small kids running from beach huts to the sea! If I was a bitter man I write into the Bournemouth Echo and complain about the beach hut owners spreading out across the prom, but I'm not. A lot of the conflict would probably be solved if they painted a cycle lane....

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nickharvey | 14 years ago
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Hopefully nonsense like this will cease when all cyclists are permitted to ride on all footpaths. Surely that's what we should be campaigning for...

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SimpleSimon | 14 years ago
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live and let live. Sensibly one would have thought that everyone should just pay more attention - cyclists to pedestrians and vice versa. As for the enforcers, well, there is nothing like an easy target rather than a hard one!

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Jon Burrage | 14 years ago
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its just ridiculous. Why dont the police turn their efforts to reducing crime, stopping drivers from driving dangerously, target bike thefts etc. Cyclists doing 15mph on a promenade isnt dangerous. Cyclists watch where we are going, pedestrians should also be aware...surely thats the problem solved.

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