Protest against plans to allow cycling in Cheltenham town centre
PEOPLE with sight and hearing difficulties have protested against plans to allow cyclists to use pedestrian areas in Cheltenham town centre.
At the protest yesterday, council officers were given goggles and ear defenders to wear so they could appreciate the disabilities others had to face.
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UNHAPPY: Protesters and mayor Barbara Driver (from right) in the pedestrianised High Street. Below: Eveline Hanson, Sheila Gillespie and Gwen Grindel walk between the Municipal Offices and the High Street to highlight the perils that they face.
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Elderly and partially sighted members of the local area meet up to protest at plans to allow cyclists in pedestrian areas around the centre of Cheltenham. Members of the Macular Disease Society group are unhappy about the plans and fear it may risk the safety of visually impaired residents and those with issues surrounding mobility. Wednesday, December 4, 2012. Eveline Hanson, Sheila Gillespie and Gwen Grindel walk between the Municipal Offices and the High Street to highlight the perils that they face. Picture by Victoria Jones - Thousand Word Media, NO SALES, NO SYNDICATION. Contact for more information mob: 07775556610 web: www.thousandwordmedia.com email: antony@thousandwordmedia.com The photographic copyright (© 2012) is exclusively retained by the works creator at all times and sales, syndication or offering the work for future publication to a third party without the photographer's knowledge or agreement is in breach of the Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988, (Part 1
Juliet Reeve, who was at the event organised by the Macular Disease Society, said: "If it came to pass we would be discriminating against a very large percentage of people. I don't feel we are just talking about visually impaired people, we are talking about the elderly and people with mobility problems as well."
The campaign was backed by Cheltenham mayor Councillor Barbara Driver (C, Lansdown), who chaired a meeting.
She said: "There is a difference between the cyclists and the people who ride bicycles, who are a different kettle of fish. Cyclists are responsible people, but some of the others, who aren't, actually enjoy intimidating people."
Cheltenham borough and Gloucestershire county councils are considering allowing cyclists on the High Street and the Promenade, areas where cycling is banned.
But pedestrians believe people could be injured as a result.
The authorities say police tell them it is too difficult to enforce the current ban and allowing cyclists on the route would mean they can concentrate on rogue cyclists instead. Potential solutions include maintaining the ban and enforcing it, or designating a cycle route through the pedestrianised area.
Gloucestershire Highways area programme manager Peter Godwin said: "A lot of the thinking is that we can make better use of the streets."
Cheltenham Borough Council urban design manager, Wilf Tomaney, said: "We are trying to encourage modes of travel which do not use carbon – in other words, walking and cycling.
"We have a pool bike here and I can use one to get to most of my meetings in 10 minutes, but if I'm forced to go around the outside of the pedestrianised area that probably takes it up to 20 minutes and if I'm one of those people who is on the verge of deciding to use a bike rather than a car, it will probably push me back into the car."
In November, the Echo revealed only two cyclists had been fined for using pavements in Cheltenham.
Cheltenham and Tewkesbury Cycle Campaign chairman, John Mallows, said surveys found the problem arose when cyclists barged on the pavement.
"If the police feel able to collar the inconsiderate ones let's give it a go in Cheltenham," he said. "If it fails, then the council will have to rethink how they provide for cycling across town without using the inner ring road, which many find very unappealing."
14 Comments
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by Alchemies
Monday, January 09 2012, 12:26AM
“The only solution appears to be tanks as a Shopmobility option.”
by Motormouth
Friday, January 06 2012, 11:52PM
“And then we have the pushchair brigade who use their buggies as battering rams to force their way through the crowds. And people who seem to be on a mission to poke out as many eyeballs as possible with their umbrellas. And lets face it. Elderly people themselves who tuck their walking sticks/umbrellas under their arms and then when their attention is caught by something turn round suddenly and take out the person walking behind them.
And let's not forget people with small dogs attatched to long extendable leads who pass you on one side with their dog on the other.
The dangers of walking in the high street are many and varied. It's a jungle out there.”
by Motormouth
Friday, January 06 2012, 11:38PM
“I notice that the protests are against cyclists again (fair play, able bodied people ride bikes and some of them are careless and inconsiderate). Does anybody dare to say anything about the drivers of electric mobility scooters some of which hurtle eratically along the pavements and slam into the back of your legs when you stop at a road crossing....obviously a bike can travel much faster than a mobility scooter and the rider can get off and walk but some of those youngsters out and about on a saturday afternoon, although technically their wheels are their legs (kill me now PC brigade) could also be accused of careless and inconsiderate behaviour around pedestrians.”
by L_escalier
Friday, January 06 2012, 4:03PM
“Soz, that should have been on the Charlie Symes thread...”
by L_escalier
Friday, January 06 2012, 4:02PM
“By the way, has anyone else noticed that the main story today, which we're not permitted to comment on, has a very misleading first line?”
by DG9999
Friday, January 06 2012, 3:56PM
“Cheltenham and Tewkesbury Cycle Campaign chairman, John Mallows, said surveys found the problem arose when cyclists barged on the pavement.
"If the police feel able to collar the inconsiderate ones let's give it a go in Cheltenham,"
What Police? It is an event if you see a PCSO in the centre of Cheltenham or elsewhere on foot in daylight -let alone a "real" police officer.”
by Ph1l1p_
Friday, January 06 2012, 2:31PM
“gypojen, how are my views "ill informed and biggoted" please explain.
I'm just commenting on the photo ^ and see it could be used for any group having a moan about something across the land. Thusly, I can't be ill informed as it's my view and bigotted, I laughed. do you know what this actually means, because I seriously doubt it.”
by Andrew_Powell
Friday, January 06 2012, 2:14PM
“Let us not forget the little darlings in black hoodies riding with no lights on their bikes.”
by Desenchanter
Friday, January 06 2012, 1:42PM
“Hells Bells !!!!, I am in total agreement with Alchemies....”
by gypojen
Friday, January 06 2012, 1:35PM
“As a partially sighted pedestrian, I often share the pavement with cyclists as I travel to and from work. The vast majority of riders using the pavement are considerate and travel slowly around pedestrians. I know thay are not supposed to ride on pavements but our roads are so hazardous that if I were in their position I would probably do exactly the same thing. The cyclists I have problems with are those who charge through red lights making pedestrians leap out of the way, if they are fortunate enough to see them in time.
Jim-GlawsFan's idea of appropriate signage on shared pavements is a good one and ought to be seriously considered.
Philip's comments are ill informed, bigotted and just plain wrong. Shame on you.”