A letter heading towards the Guernsey Evening Press Dear Sir An incident happened to me recently which is a reasonably common event for myself and others. I was riding my cycle home down through Baubigny from the direction of the Vale road traffic lights along the one way road, when a group of ladies in a following car were shouting out of the window for me to get onto the cycle path. Unfortunately one is not in the position to remonstrate back when the people are behind you. I am sure that many of the readers are now thinking that the ladies were correct in their thinking. But unfortunately they are incorrect, I was in the right place being on the main road. Many cyclists and drivers wrongly assume that because there is a cycle path then it must be used at all times but this is not the case. At the start of the one way section, there is a one way sign erected on a pole with a large sign underneath it saying Including Cyclists. This makes the road a contraflow. The idea is that cyclists can ride against the one way system on the cycle path. There are other contraflows around the Island but I only really have experience of facing issues on this road. If my memory serves me correctly, this contraflow was built into the specification when the new school was built with the simple purpose to slow down the traffic. Two of my cycling friends (who are also car drivers) have felt intimidated enough through people shouting at them or blowing their horns to consider using the cycle path in the wrong direction but this is not the answer. Simply the cycle path is too narrow to accommodate bikes going in different directions. The cycle path is approximately 100cm wide (where it does not share areas with pedestrians) but take into consideration that handlebar widths can be 70cm, this does not leave room for two bikes going in opposite directions unless you stray onto the pedestrian area, or worse still have to take evading action and come off the cycle path into oncoming traffic. So if you see me on this road going towards Oatlands you will understand the reason why. I will be doing approximately 15mph which is only 5mph below the speed limit, so I would therefore be grateful if you keep your hands off the horn and voices contained within your vehicle. Many thanks. Regards Graham Le Maitre
Posted on: Thu, 14 Aug 2014 15:25:23 +0000