Woking to ban cycling in town centre areas

Woking, which enjoys its last official day as a Cycling Town today, will in future restrict cycling in the parts of the town centre at certain times of day.

The decision by Surrey County Council's Local Committee for Woking would see designated areas of the town retaining shared use between pedestrians and cyclists while limiting cycling in other parts of the town centre between 10am and 4pm..

Last year we reported on the difficulty that Cycle Woking and the Surrey Disabled People’s Partnership were having in finding common ground over the use of shared space in the town centre, with the latter arguing that cyclists should be banned altogether from certain pedestrianised areas. Last year the shared use routes through the town centre were made permanent after there were no reported incidents between pedestrians and cyclists during the trial period.

The Local Committee now appears to have taken note of the Partnership’s protestations. A statement from Cycle Woking says: “To recognise the concerns raised by interested local groups and individuals, the Local Committee agreed to introduce time limitations within certain areas where cycling will not be permitted."

The new proposals, if adopted, will mean:

• Cycling in from the Civic Offices up and including Town Square will be restricted from 10am to 4pm, Monday to Sunday, inclusive.
• Cycling in the area within Commercial Way from Church Path to Church Walk will also be restricted from 10am to 4pm, Monday to Sunday, inclusive.

The Local Committee has, however, requested that a de-cluttering feasibility study be carried out in respect of the Commercial Way area. If street clutter was removed, the Committee says that timing restrictions would be revisited.

None of the proposed changes can, in any event, take immediate effect given the requirement for Surrey County Council to consult on the amended Traffic Regulation Order. In the meantime, cycling is still permitted within the areas in question.