Chichester to Emsworth A259 cycle route plans ‘need a rethink’

The proposed new ‘safe’ cycle route between Emsworth and Chichester along the A259 plans to do away with the pavements and turn them into a two-way cycle lane ‘shared’ with pedestrians. This idea could only be dreamed up by someone who never gets out of their car.

For pedestrians this would be very dangerous. Granted, for most of the route there are often more cyclists than pedestrians but at pinch points pedestrians would be very vulnerable.

For cyclists, having to watch out for pedestrians, vehicles in driveways and give way at road junctions this would turn a 40-minute ride into an hour or more of weaving, stopping, bell-ringing and gear-changing, not to mention the frequent clipping and unclipping your feet from the pedals.

What is needed is clear, uninterrupted single cycle lanes on both sides of the road.

These need to be smooth, kept free of debris and potholes and clearly indicate the right of way at road junctions – exactly the same as motor traffic.

In addition, there should be no parking across cycle lanes.

Otherwise, even as a 74-year-old cyclist, I would prefer that cycle lanes be dispensed with altogether and I become a regular road user.