Letter: Bikes Are the Answer to Guildford’s Traffic Problems

Published on: 10 Oct, 2015
Updated on: 11 Oct, 2015

A full bike rack on Guildford High Street shows the increasing popularity of cycling in the borough.

A bike rack on Guildford High Street.

From Chris Ogle

I attended Guildford Vision Group’s meeting on the Masterplan on Monday (October 5). It was very disappointing that there was hardly any attention paid to bikes. One question was asked about bikes, by the chairman of the Guildford cycling forum, but his question was largely ignored.

Cycleways were mentioned but essentially just in passing. It was recognised that traffic needs to be reduced in the town by up to as much as 40% and bikes can really help to achieve this.

York, Cambridge, Oxford were all mentioned as towns to aspire to. These are all great cycling towns. We need to have much more emphasis on this. Look at what they have done in other countries – they changed their infrastructure to promote cycling.

Cars are a dead end and Volkswagen have shown that emissions targets cannot be achieved. Electric bikes can enable older and less mobile people to cycle as well. They just need to feel safe to do so.

This is the modal shift we need.

Responses to Letter: Bikes Are the Answer to Guildford’s Traffic Problems

Frank Phillipson Reply

October 11, 2015 at 12:53 am

Cycling is the answer?

How likely is it going to be to get one of the highest car owning/using counties in the country to give up their vehicles in the numbers required?

There is also the fact that longer (non cycling) distance journeys are funnelled through Guildford because of its location in the gap in the North Downs and because of the lack of alternative north-south routes. The A3 is usually gridlocked and the next “A” class road on this axis, unless you dogleg via Newlands Corner or Farnham, is the A24 at Dorking.

York, Cambridge and Oxford are all situated in relatively flat areas so have no hills which restrict routes.

They are also all located some distance from any other large towns unlike the crowded south-east with Godalming, Milford, Haslemere and Cranleigh to the south and with Aldershot, Farnborough, Camberley, Woking and London to the north.

There is also the commercial vehicle factor. With all the dense concentration of companies in the South East there has to be provision for those vehicles.

Additionally, are people going to cycle in the middle of winter? Having commuted by motorcycle for 11 years in all weathers when younger I would say not.

If traffic is going to be reduced through the centre of Guildford there must be an alternative north-south route that can take its place.

Cycling and public transport have their place in assisting this but I don’t think they are the whole solution.

The one thing that I would say would definitely have a positive influence would be the relaying of the Cranleigh railway line.

This would need to be a conventional railway and not a tram or guided bus-way, which need to run on the road network when they get nearer to Guildford thereby defeating the object of relieving congestion.

The railway on the other hand does not suffer from this clogging up into Guildford through the tunnels only having to fit in around the existing train movements. Once at Guildford station there are numerous destinations that can be reached.

Trains that presently terminate at Guildford and lay over (i.e. the Effingham Junction line) could be extended to Cranleigh thereby avoiding the need to provide extra rolling stock.

Should the line not be electrified, thus saving on the expenditure of providing the necessary equipment involved?

Perhaps diesel multiple unit rolling stock could be used with the service being extended through Guildford to the proposed station at Park Barn serving the Royal Surrey County Hospital, the University of Surrey etc?

The current park and ride at Artington could also be provided with a new station thus alleviating the number of buses it requires along the Portsmouth Road, A3100.

The Downslink footpath/cycleway could be accommodated alongside the railway separated by fencing (as is the case elsewhere in the UK see links below) as I believe that the line was built to double track width standards.

While the Downslink is an amenity and it is a pity to lose some of its attractiveness, the relief of congestion from this direction is now and has been for some time, a dire necessity.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/ron.strutt/fullpics/meldonpath.jpg
http://flickrhivemind.net/blackmagic.cgi?id=13875533153&url=
https://www.flickr.com/photos/byjr/21539191280/
http://www.nwrail.org.uk/rd150815-158828-barmouth.jpg
http://www.whrsoc.org.uk/WHRProject/2001/race010801-1.jpg
http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/393992
https://www.flickr.com/photos/117006786@N06/16615705591/
https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8792/16539407873_8939dbe817.jpg
https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7687/16500291673_9423c96345_b.jpg
https://www.flickr.com/photos/117006786@N06/17119858921/in/photostream/
http://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/02/78/98/2789829_00f8aaeb.jpg
Jim Allen Reply

October 11, 2015 at 2:00 am

Sadly bikes are off the agenda. The average travel to work distance is 14 miles – that’s 28 a day, so it is highly unlikely that any one in the normal class of workers will cycle that distance in all weathers.
Ben Paton Reply

October 11, 2015 at 1:47 pm

Bicycles are a good thing. They keep riders healthy and they save the environment. But they are not the cure for Guildford’s traffic problems – of which there are many.

Here are just a few of the problems:

– The A3 linking London and Portsmouth is a strategic cross country motorway controlled by Highways England not GBC. In its published analyses the two worst congestion black spots along its entire length are at Guildford and Wisley. The contribution bicycle use can make to these problems is small

– The A246 Guildford to Leatherhead. This ancient A road is at times simply overwhelmed with traffic. Anyone who tried to cycle down it regularly would take their life in their hands.

– Central Guildford: congestion during rush hour is worse here than in central London. Where would the bicycles go? The most obvious place would be the tow path along the river because that at least is flat. East and West of the river stand the North Downs which are not very cycle friendly to say the least.

By all means promote bicycles. But instead of just talking about them what about actually doing some thing. How about building some cycle lanes dedicated exclusively to bicycles?
Terry Duckmanton Reply

October 11, 2015 at 6:18 pm

The problem here is that there are not enough people thinking outside the metal box.

When it comes to utility journeys most people will automatically think in terms of the motor car, very few will even consider the bicycle as utility transport despite the fact that on many journeys a bike makes more sense than a car would.

I live about two miles from Guildford town centre, it is a pleasant walk of about 40 minutes or a 10 minute bike ride if you take it steady.

Why would I want to go to all the trouble of driving into town and paying for parking when I can walk or cycle?

According to the 2011 census, the average commuting distance in England and Wales is now 15km (9.3 miles). This is well within the capability of the average working person and would provide enough exercise to keep said person fit without needing to join a gym.

Having commuted by bicycle a distance of 11 miles each way for the last 12 years of my working life I can assure you that cycling in Surrey is possible most of the time and it doesn’t rain as often as you think.

Ben Paton is missing the point about bicycles being the answer to the traffic problems when he asks “Where would the bicycles go?”.

If we can somehow persuade people who currently commute by car to switch to cycling instead, then for every new cycle commuter there will be one less car.

If enough people switch the traffic congestion will sort itself out.

Why don’t you try it yourself sometime, you might like it. Don’t worry if you are not very fit, you soon will be if you keep cycling to work.

I know quite a few people who say they would like to cycle to work but…

If you are one of these why not write in and tell us why you feel that you can’t do it. I’m sure that there will be at least one other reader who has already overcome your particular objection and will be happy to advise you how to deal with it.
Brian Holt Reply

October 11, 2015 at 9:18 pm

What is the point of more cycle lanes, when most cyclist do not use them?

Where they are provided cyclist should be made to use them.

You cannot compare Guildford with city centres such as Cambridge and Oxford, because their university buildings are there and no heavy lorries etc, pass through those parts.

Unlike Guildford, they are not large shopping centres, but just full of students.

The roads in Guildford town centre are busy and narrow.
Bernard Parke Reply

October 12, 2015 at 11:12 am

At one time cyclists obeyed the rules of the road as laid down in the Highway Code.

Those were the days.
Valerie Thompson Reply

October 12, 2015 at 5:23 pm

Some footpaths could be dedicated to both pedestrians and cyclists as in many European countries. There is a footpath almost the whole length of the A246, which is rarely used by walkers, but it would need resurfacing and the hedges and grass verges cut back.
I shall not be using them as I am too old to want to cycle anywhere, even with a motorised bike.
Maybe we need more park and ride facilities. I use the Merrow one regularly when going to Guildford to shop or for medical appointments. The buses are sufficiently frequent and cheap for people to use to commute.
Simon Schultz Reply

October 12, 2015 at 11:38 pm

As a cyclist, I really do not want to be sharing a footpath with pedestrians. Rather than risk injury to pedestrians, I prefer to be on the road. Separated cycling paths are on the other hand a different story. People will use them if they are adequate.

But the existing cycling infrastructure (cycle lanes etc) is not fit for purpose – in many cases it is, in fact, extremely dangerous.

Fully behind park & ride, i.e. park & cycle, although I have mixed feelings about buses, as a Merrow bus driver has twice tried to run me off the road.
James Dix Reply

October 13, 2015 at 2:35 pm

I have to agree with several of the above comments in regards to both cyclists and cycle lanes, I cycle three miles to work in the town centre each day.

Taking London Road as an example, whilst there are cycle lanes along the length of it, I have on a number of occassions been forced to stop by cars (and buses!) drifting into the cycle lane.

In addition, the section along the wall opposite Guildford High School is constantly overgrown with plants expanding into the cycle path. I almost got a face full of stinging nettles this morning and had to come out of the cycle lane in order to avoid them!

On the other hand, I have also seen both types of cyclist – the sensible few who wear helmets, high vis and follow the rules of the road, and the mad ones who cycle like maniacs, without helmets or lights, don’t stop at traffic lights and unexpectedly weave in and out of traffic as well as on the pavement.

I’m all for encouraging cycling, but…
Bibhas Neogi Reply

October 15, 2015 at 2:55 pm

Why only bikes? Bring on horses and donkeys and complete the modal shift. Guildford would regain its medieval glory of a tranquil town with authentic smell to go with it! How nice would that be. Can’t wait.