We know there is a lot of concern from residents about cycling in Headington. Pedestrians tell us that they experience near misses or are bumped into by cyclists on pavements. Cyclists say they experience near misses or are forced off road by buses. Car drivers tell us that cyclists swerve in front of them without using arm signals.
The neighbourhood police have been stopping cyclists who ride on the pavements and ask them why they are doing it, and the answer is frequently “because I don’t feel safe cycling on the road”. Many of these cyclists are adults, not children. We need to come up with some good ideas about how to improve all this, before there are any more accidents. At a recent Neighbourhood Action Group meeting some suggestions included:
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impose on the spot fines for people who cycle on pavements
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stop those cycling on pavements and give them a warning first time round, if they are stopped again, send them on a compulsory cycling proficiency training course
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enforce the law that cycle lanes should be used only by cyclists and not by cars – this would make cyclists feel safer
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devise cycle routes that take cyclists off the main roads and give a map of these routes and a warning to those who cycle on pavements
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put up signs instructing cyclists to dismount where traffic junctions are particularly dangerous
We have asked for this topic to be raised at a forthcoming North East Area Committee meeting. There are two questions that must be asked of the County:
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Why isn’t there a Cycling Officer for Oxfordshire?
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Why isn’t there an up to date County strategy on cycling?
If you have any ideas or suggestions, we would welcome them!