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news
park-bench-338429_1920Benches better than cycle lanes, claims councillor
A councillor has argued that benches would be a better alternative to proposed new cycle lanes.
It was claimed that possible new bike paths were causing 'huge concern and distress' among locals and that if they were built they would put people off using public transport.
> Ealing to scrap almost all LTNs - 'consultation' with handful of responses used as 'referendum'
Sefton Council's Cllr Sir Ron Watson made the comments after he secured funding for four new benches around Southport, Merseyside.
The new seats have been installed along various points of Lulworth Road and Sir Ron says they will provide rest points for people using public transport, the Southport Visiter and Ormskirk Advertiser, reports.
Sir Ron is one of a number of vocal critics of proposals which could see cycle lanes added to a route running between Crossens, Southport and Ainsdale.
> Residents complain about 'motorway' style cycle path
He said: “The aim of the benches is to make it easier for people who are considering using public transport instead of travelling by car because it will allow them to take a break on the way to the bus stop or in its very close vicinity and as such will make like easier for them.
“This is the sort of initiative and forward thinking that has a much more practical effect than the current proposals in respect of cycle lanes which are continuing to cause a huge amount of local concern and distress amongst the public.
“The aim of greater use of public transport is a good one and we have a comprehensive rail and bus network that is the envy of many other parts of the country so we start off with an advantage but we should not in turn put people off by things such as the current cycle lane scheme and I can only express the hope that when the consultation process in respect of cycle lanes is analysed the public will be given a clear view to which the council must adhere.”
Latest Comments
- mctrials23 4 sec ago
Part of it is that but a large part of it is just deeply ingrained hatred of cyclists because cyclists are blamed for ridiculous things and drivers...
- chrisonabike 11 min 51 sec ago
The exact situation shown in this photo is pretty common near me....
- brooksby 1 hour 13 min ago
Nope - had an urgent appointment with his tax advisor
- brooksby 1 hour 17 min ago
I'm not sure which one of them looks more like a crook…
- OnYerBike 1 hour 50 min ago
It might not be Miche-specific, but across all the thru-axle, disc brake wheelsets in my household (including Hope, DT Swiss and Bitex hubs), none...
- S.E. 4 hours 2 min ago
That made me think of that "Hot Fuzz" comedy movie... so many truths in it.
- Rendel Harris 5 hours 54 min ago
Good to see a V-brake option available for all those people who ride Cosmic Elites with V-brakes...seriously, you must know really that the answer...
- mattw 6 hours 32 min ago
Get thyself over to Buildhub - a community owned forum where I am on the moderation team ("Ferdinand") which is about self-build and renovation....
- Destroyer666 16 hours 36 min ago
Nonono, not those, but those that have constructed Italian cars and motorcycles that have been driven to hundreds of race and championship...
- RoubaixCube 16 hours 45 min ago
This may well be the case although Im unaware of the brands popularity on their home turf. I used to see them being advertised more in the UK...
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52 comments
He looks like a Doctor Who alien.
It's all a matter of perspective
He sees park benches I see somewhere to lock my bike up
What? You wouldn't lock your bike up to an "adult social care" initiative would you?
I always thought it was just my local council that were fucking useless/incompetent/stupid.
But it seems it's a Nationwide problem 😉
I wonder how much each bench costs? £5,000?
Not to mention the graffiti clean-up and bi-annual paint job.
A bench and somewhere to get a nice cup of tea are becoming higher priorities for Mrs Mungecrundle and I when we think about going for a walk. However seeing them as mutually exclusive choices for active travel is really pushing the anti cycling boundaries of gammonkind to new horizons.
We can safely write off this bloke as an entitled twit.
I think Sir Ron is overestimating his initiative and forward thinking prowess. A true visionary would have conceived something more akin to this...
4 legs good, 2 legs bad.
Both!
The fact that people habituated to inactive travel should need a few sit-downs on the way to a bus stop points towards the need for a more active population.
He's clearly speaking on behalf of his elderly constituents, who presumably form a large part of his vote base.
Quite how seats and cycle lanes are supposed to be mutually exclusive, who knows.
Possibly also a sop to the grumpier oldies ...
My Mum is in her 70's but she cycles at least 3 times a week. Also seats are always good if u need to stop have a drink.
One of the guys I race BMX bikes with is in his mid 70s
Benches make an excellent place to stop while repairing a puncture though,
Good point. Let's have cycle lanes with nearby benches along with some public bike maintenance equipment every mile or so.
Why can't they have both benches and cycle routes?
Is it because the benches don't take any perceived space away from the motorists? They don't mind cycle routes going elsewhere, but if they have to make even the slightest change in their behaviour to possibly make a difference to our planet becoming unliveable then it causes them huge concern and distress.
I think you've nailed it there - let's start installing benches in High Street parking bays, so that peds can park their posteriors.
Or use them as well as the planters for filtered permeability on LTNs?
Grrr, grrr, outrage, outrage. Is that the desired effect of this article?
I think that was the desired effect of Cllr Watson's comments.
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