Faversham councillors keen to rid town centre of ‘arrogant and fast’ cyclists

This semi-wit has made the news here in TX. They want to know if she would run for office here as she has such a conservative grasp of the facts (makes them up as he goes along).

Seriously has anyone gotten anything on the pedestrian death she spoke of except from the kentonline article?

in other news something almost happened in a small town and must be stopped immediately..........someone could get killed !!

"who go way quicker than cars during the daytime who we need to stop"

Ah. I think I see the problem. Jealous idiot.

Quote:

... Conservative councillor Anita Walker claimed that a pedestrian had once been killed by a cyclist in Preston Street.

I certainly couldn't find this on google. I wonder when it happened? And (assuming it even happened at all: 'cos no politician ever made something up just to support their argument, did they...) is that the only time a person was killed by a bicycle in Faversham? I wonder how many people have been killed by cars in Faversham? Or just by other people?

I guess that what I mean is, that if the council are that concerned about road safety type stuff then furious cycling should probably be way down the list...

A quick glance at

http://www.kentonline.co.uk/

will illustrate quite how many people are killed and injured every day in kent

As a long term resident of Sittingbourne (Faversham's poorer neighbour) and cycled through it many times I'm surprised at what can only be described as an own goal.

Nearby is the freewheel, the countries first cycling pub, the majority of cyclists I've seen passing have been foreign cycling touristes taking the pleasant cycle route along the Kent coast. These people all spend money in the area and in my experience are very polite riders indeed.

I'd hope that local businesses would be quick to lay into the councillor involved and make it clear that this sort of attitude loses more votes than it gains.

"Faversham cyclists keen to rid town centre of ‘arrogant and fat’ councillors. "

A much better headline.

I live in Faversham and recently in the Hop Festival, with the town center madly busy a group of cyclists came thru... all on foot, properly geared and very cautious of bikes in the middle of people pausing and even waiting to be able to get thru...
Following weekend normal market day and I see 4 youngsters on BMX speeding as they cycle in the center of town blaring music from their phones and being ridiculously loud... Maybe this was the behavior he wanted to stamp upon although this is the man who knocked on my door promoting that I should vote conservative when I told him I couldn't vote because I was foreign he simply replied "that is nonsense everyone can vote"... If you cant know your stuff you shouldn't open your mouth...

Unless you've lived in or around Faversham your comments here are worthless.

We lived there from 96-01. It's a terrific place, apart from the heroin problem - this is not a joke. Great pubs, home to Shepherd Neame brewery - oldest in Britain. Has just 1 set of traffic lights and traffic is not, and has never been much of an issue in the town.

The town centre is partially one-way and partially semi-pedestrianised. Cycling fast around down Preston St - against the one way system would put you head on with cars, delivery trucks and pedestrians.

Faversham is a small town, no need to go fast. Just relax, enjoy your bike and respect your environment.

I grew up a few mile from Faversham, it was always regarded as being a bit 'special'

So exactly how many pedestrians are injured by cyclists in Faversham? Well, none. But Kent's record on dangerous drivers is not particularly good. This councillor needs to get real.

Councillor is a mis spelling of bellend, put your hand up and you may be one.

As it has been explained to me in the past (google it), the Road Traffic Act is applicable to roads and the speed limits imposed are only enforceable if the vehicle is motorised. Parks and special areas are covered by bylaws e.g. Royal parks.
So if the time ever comes, even a bad lawyer should be able to sort out any issues.

One of the reasons some cyclists go the "wrong way" up one-way streets is because Councils have disconnected many through roads in an effort to stop rat-runs around congestion.

In many cases, these were two-way streets converted to one-way, with plenty of space for cycle lanes along the side - but they haven't bothered as they don't care about cycling .

Many cyclists feel uncomfortable dealing with the congested areas (which of course also lack any provision for safe cycling) and instead divert up one-way streets. At least you can see trouble coming that way (It's black and says "TAXI' on the front

yes I have ridden in Kent three times, across the downs is good, why ? very few cars, riding on the A2 was a bloody nightmare and easily the worse place I have ever ridden for car closeness and aggressiveness.

I don't live in Faversham, but if I was fast, I'd be arrogant about it!

I guarantee you that the cyclists causing bother are not doing anything close to 20mph, so the speed limit is basically irrelevant.

Might as well mention this one as well.

Tory candidate for Mayor of London (not Zac, so no one has heard of him) hits out at "aggressive lycra-clad brigade" of cyclists.

http://www.kingstonguardian.co.uk/news/13745763.Tory_candidate_for_Mayor...

Did a search for cyclist kills pedestrian in Faversham could find nothing ....

Found this and maybe councillors should be calling for tougher sentences, UKIP and Conservatives seem to like that !

Kyle Coen aged 14
On Monday 30 July 2012 Location: A2 London Road near Sittingbourne, near Bapchild Cricket Club
Grey Fiat Bravo driven by Robert Lawrence of Barrow Green, Teynham
Notes He pleaded guilty to failing to stop after an accident and perverting the course of justice earlier. Kyle was cycling to meet his girlfriend in Faversham when he was struck by a car. The teenager was treated by paramedics but died at the scene. Det Sgt Paul Fewtrell, of Kent Police, said: "Offences of failure to stop following a collision are serious, but leaving the scene where a teenager sustained injuries that resulted in his death was shocking to all involved in this investigation. "This was compounded by the phone call to police by Lawrence reporting his vehicle had been stolen. The damage to his vehicle would clearly have shown to him the extent of the injury caused, yet he tried to deflect the blame at the earliest opportunity."
Sentence 6 months jail and a one year driving ban

so when a car kills someone in Faversham do they ask for cars to be banned ?

It is Kent of course so when a cyclist gets killed on the A2 - http://www.canterburytimes.co.uk/Cyclist-dies-bike-left-pieces-A2-horror... no calls for Cars banning ?

I totally agree that cyclists going the wrong way through one way streets need dealt with (if that's what he means, rather than having got lost and no longer heading where they were hoping to), same with any that disregard traffic lights and pedestrian crossings.
Here in Norway, cyclists can (and occasionally do) get done for speeding. The police are out in the autumn once it's getting dark handing out warnings for no lights (being stopped again = a fine)
With regards to "fast cyclists" that depends where they are. If it's a pedestrianised area, they are cycling illegally anyway, if it's an area open to traffic, as long as they are within the speed limit and obeying other traffic rules, they can't do anything. The best way to keep the "through traffic" cyclists out the shopping heart of the town, is to provide a decent cycle route that skirts it, with decent surfaces and no random sharp 90 degree bends.

Give it a break . This is a quote from a newspaper isn't it. That in itself may not be word perfect. Agreed it may be a bit anti from someone who has probably had a nasty experience of a t*** on a bike -but those cyclists who do move quickly amongst pedestrians, break traffic rules etc do need a heavy hand. Along with those motorists who speed and break the rules. All complete ****wits as far s I am concerned.
On mixed use paths cycling should be walking pace. No reason to be anything else. Just as cars should defer to cyclists where safety is concerned bikes should defer to pedestrians.

"The comments came after Conservative councillor Anita Walker claimed that a pedestrian had once been killed by a cyclist in Preston Street. According to Kent Online, Walker said it was time to take action and Wilcox agreed with her."

Well, at least they were being specific.

Apparently some nasty German planes flew over the town once, all Lufthansa flights in to Heathrow have to approach from the West these days...