Highway Code Revision
Cyclists who fail to use lanes provided for them could face prosecution as a result of changes to the Highway Code. (as in Kevin’s email 13th May).
The wording of the relevant passage has been the subject of intense debate over the past few months. According to the present version of the Highway Code, cycle routes should be used "when practicable". A revised version said they should be used "where they are provided". Then, in a concession to cyclists, the latest version was changed to instruct them to use lanes "wherever possible".
A number of politicians in both houses are ready to object after being lobbied by cycling groups, including CTC.
More locally – there is an OCC Accident Database
Anthony Kirkwood, Road Safety Engineering Team, 01865 815704,
A Long Hanborough cyclist was involved in a collision with a bus driver at a bus stop on the shared cyclepath en route to Witney. Kevin Hickman reported this to OCC and their response mentioned their “accident database” – see below.
“We don't appear to have received a report from the police on this incident (as you are probably aware there is in fact no need to report an accident provided the parties involved exchange the necessary details), and I have checked our accident database which shows no recent history of cycle accidents here (or indeed anywhere on this shared use cycletrack).”
I contacted another CTC member who uses this cyclepath, and he immediately knew of another accident near the bridge over the railway line. I believe under-reporting of accidents on cycle facilities does not benefit us cyclists, and allows OCC to plead ignorance when one occurs.
I will be contacting Mr Kirkwood asking for details of how and by whom this accident database should be populated, and will circulate any information that is forthcoming. If any of you have been unfortunate enough to have been involved in an accident on any cycle facilities locally I would appreciate it if you could let me have some details on john[dot]forsythe[at]virgin[dot]net
Regards … John
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Thanks for the responses to my last letter. The main point raised concerned the difficult issue of “daring” to cycle on the road instead of using cycle facilities (between Witney and Long Hanborough), and the attitude and behaviour of motorists. This does appear to be a problem across the country, and there is no easy solution. There are a few CTC initiatives that may help, and I will give details as they arise
At a local level, I would be interested in any comment about cycle parking in Witney.
A while ago my hopes were raised when the old “wheel bender” type cycle racks from outside Argos in the market square were removed. Unfortunately they have been replaced by what I can only consider even less suitable racks. I will continue to lock my bike to some nearby railings.
I intend contacting the local council to establish why they selected these racks and as before, would appreciate any input from members who park their bikes in Witney. Where do you usually park your bikes, has a bike been damaged while parked, what type of cycle parking facilities would be ideal etc. Any comment would be welcome, please email me at john [dot] forsythe [at] virgin [dot] net
Regards,
John Forsythe
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Hello there. Thanks for taking the time to read this.
I am John Forsythe, the CTC Right to Ride (RTR) representative for West Oxfordshire. In October this year I was elected onto the committee of the West Oxon Section as the Right to Ride representative. The purpose of this email is to introduce myself to you and hopefully, to elicit your views of cycling in and around Witney.
According to CTC, the purpose of the RTR role is:
At the moment, most of my RTR work involves communicating with Oxford City Council regarding the A40 cyclepath, as most of my cycling is done commuting between Witney and Oxford.
I would like to broaden the scope of my involvement and would appreciate the views of other cyclists, CTC members or not, as to what is important, lacking, dangerous etc. It would also strengthen my hand when dealing with the local council if I can claim to represent the views “of local cyclists” rather than just my own.
I know from talking to other CTC members that cycle facilities in Witney are far from satisfactory, but there are other areas that deserve attention such as the lack of decent cycle parking in Witney. Some other members are campaigning about the traffic calming at Bampton, which has been designed and built with no thought for cyclists.
Please let me know your thoughts, good or bad. I can be contacted via email at john [dot] forsythe [at] virgin [dot] net or by phone on 01993 776598
Regards …. John