Cyclists ‘Risking Their Lives’ at New Stoke Crossroads, Councils Are Warned

Published on: 14 Dec, 2019
Updated on: 15 Dec, 2019

Stoke crossroads or “interchange”

By Rebecca Curley

local democracy reporter

Cyclists are “taking their life into their hands” as they wait for the lights to change at the refurbished Stoke crossroads in Guildford, a joint meeting of councils has been told.

The junction of the A25 and A320 has undergone major works including changing crossings for pedestrians and cyclists.

But Nigel Burke, from Guildford Bicycle User Group (G-Bug), said cyclists now had to take longer crossing the road, Surrey County Council and Guildford Borough Council Joint Committee heard on Wednesday (December 11).

He said: “Cyclists using the new cycleway along Stoke Park get to the Stoke crossroads and there are quite long delays then while they wait to cross.”

He asked if “greater priority” could be given to cyclists to “co-ordinate crossing at various lanes”, adding: “To cross any one arm of the crossroads involves press, wait, cross, press, wait, cross, press, wait, cross three times.”

He said some people lose patience and “take their life into their hands” to cross when they see cars waiting.

Since the works finished, phasing of the lights has been frequently criticised.
Cllr George Potter (Lib Dem, Burpham), said the work had taken a “significant” amount of time and caused “significant” disruption.

He said: “The purpose of this project was meant to improve the cycle route, in particular around the Stoke Road crossroads.”

But he said cyclists had told him it “hadn’t improved matters at all”, because of the amount of time waiting for the lights.

The work has been part of the Guildford Improvement Scheme and “fine-tuning” of the lights is being reviewed.

Cherrie Mendoza, SCC transport strategy project manager, said: “It’s a work in progress.
“I have been trying to collect as much feedback as I can from fellow officers and G-Bug to try to bring all these issues forward to our traffic signals team who are working really hard to try to mitigate the issues that delay not just cyclists and pedestrians but also drivers.”

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