Letter: Improvements for Cyclists – Great! But Don’t Start Here

Published on: 29 Sep, 2017
Updated on: 28 Sep, 2017

From Jane Hepburn

In response to: Have Your Say On Proposals to Improve, Pedestrian, Cycle and Bus Travel

As a keen cyclist, I welcome any effort to improve convenience and safety for cyclists in Guildford.

Whilst I am happy that efforts are being made locally to start the process by tackling the area around Gill Avenue, Tescos, Egerton Road and the cathedral, I must admit to being puzzled at this choice of area to make improvements.

I have cycled this particular road every single day starting from Stoughton Road, going to the Sports Park and then cycling into town. I have cycled at different times of day, at rush hour and also during the slacker times.

In my opinion this is already one of the best areas served for cycling in Guildford. The pavements are wide, the roads apart from rush hours are relatively peaceful, and when there is an excess of traffic the wide pavements make cycling already a pleasure.

I particularly enjoy the “off piste” track for pedestrians and cyclists from Tescos to the cathedral going under the tunnel which it is suggested is not safe at night.

I have cycled around Guildford every day going too and from the town centre from Stoughton, and going further afield to Woodstreet, Normandy, Shalford and Cranleigh. There are many other areas which in my opinion are more worthy of improvements.

For example from Stoughton Road down to Bellfields and along the busy Woking Road in both directions but particularly along Stoke Road into the town centre, which is absolutely lethal. Going up the Aldershot Road towards both Normandy and Woodstreet are also extremely dangerous routes for cyclists particularly at night.

I heartily commend the idea to improve the situation for cyclists and pedestrians but if there are a few million spare in the pot, why start where there are so few problems and where the issues are largely solved?