‘Could using footpaths be a better Chichester cycle lane solution?

I am a keen cyclist and I am in favour of additional cycling lanes in and around the city – but the ‘pop-up’ lanes that have been added or are work in progress by the council is a shining example of a good idea that has sadly been badly implemented.

The new lanes, which by the way run alongside existing and totally adequate cycle lanes down Broyle Road to the traffic circle, is doing nothing but adding to unnecessary congestion and has almost doubled the length of time it takes for vehicular traffic to navigate the circle.

In addition, as a cyclist, it is not reassuring in having to share a lane with a bus! And as already pointed out by a reader, the single-file traffic lane heading to St Richard’s Hospital for example will certainly create chaos and delay emergency vehicles from getting through. Not to mention the squandering of taxpayers revenue.

I do not agree that we have to wait for this mess to be completed in order to assess that it is a waste of limited road real estate. That fact is already clearly evident to most.

Furthermore, the council should look at how many public footpaths could be put to dual use as both foot and cycle paths. There are numerous in and around Chichester that could serve that purpose and the money could be spent in improving/modifying these which would create additional cycle paths.

There is no shame in admitting mistakes. There is only compounded embarrassment in refusing to take corrective action and learn from mistakes.