Letter: The Solution to Guildford’s Traffic Chaos – Is the Bicycle

Published on: 20 Aug, 2016
Updated on: 23 Aug, 2016

From Doug Clare

We have all experienced Guildford in gridlock and when this happens there is no better form of transport than a bike.

The Guildford Masterplan requires a 25% decrease in the use of cars for the town centre to be redesigned as traffic free. New research by academics at Cambridge University has found that cycle friendly infrastructure accounts for 85% of increased cycle use.

So the solution is simple, make it safe to cycle for everyone by creating a network of segregated cycle paths and shared use areas and, as has happened in London, people will take up cycling.

You may not be aware but this is starting to happen with £9 million being committed by Guildford Borough Council (GBC) and the Local Enterprise Partnership to the “Guildford Town Centre Transport Strategy”. This will provide a series of improvements to the Guildford cycle system but must be seen as only the start.

It will not provide the safe network that is required for Joe Public to decide that cycling is safe and give it a try. GBC and Surrey County Council must continue to provide funding for the cycle network to be completed and quickly.

A well designed cycle infrastructure provides the best return on investment as it improves the health of the population and reduces pollution at the same time. The argument that Guildford is too hilly does not hold water now that electric bikes are sensibly priced, why not try one?

How can you help? Very simply by getting involved with G-Bug (Guildford Bike User Group) a group of local cyclists who are lobbying for these improvements to happen.

Our next meeting is on Tuesday 23rd August at 6pm -7.30pm at Guildford Borough Council offices, Millmead. Please join us, all are welcome or if you can’t make it sign up to our Facebook page.

Responses to Letter: The Solution to Guildford’s Traffic Chaos – Is the Bicycle

Jan Messinger Reply

August 20, 2016 at 11:33 am

Sadly this is not a good idea for all. I live some distance from the town. How do I carry my shopping home?

Currently it is too dangerous for our young people to cycle due to heavy traffic and inpatient drivers on over used, congested roads. Then there are the pot holes to negotiate? Also try telling our ageing population to cycle.

Sadly, of course, due to the declining bus services our residents of more mature years maybe forced to try and use a bicycle. Using a bicycle is not an easy option. We are all delighted to see our Olympic cyclists with their fantastic medals. However anyone deserves a medal for cycling into Guildford town.
- Chris Ogle Reply
  
  August 22, 2016 at 10:20 pm
  
  With an electric bike you can carry a surprising amount of shopping with very little effort. I am not saying you can do your weekly shop but with a couple of panniers you can carry really quite a lot.
  
  We have some beautiful bikes and you are very welcome to try one out. We are between the Lighting Centre and Bo concept.
Martin Elliott Reply

August 20, 2016 at 12:13 pm

I thought one of the features of the Guildford traffic problem was its historic nature as a ‘Gap Town’.

The Local Plan talks about reducing traffic in central town, and traveling to, rather than through, the town. However, other than a vague hope for improvements to access and capacity on the A3, there is no proposal for any new routes around the town centre.

Instead we have proposals from independent commentators about an east-west bridge at York Road, but nothing about north-south routes.

I’ve not studied it in detail, but my memories of Kingston as a junction of several routes and a river crossing from being a student and later taken shopping by my wife are of town that has continuously developed its facilities and infrastructure. They have laid out a series of roads and car parks around a pedestrianised centre and river access.

Sound familiar?

Bibhas Neogi (Letter: I Still Think A Tunnel For A281 Traffic Is The Best Option) has written about a tunnel to deal with the north-south traffic on the A281. Ed
- Bibhas Neogi Reply
  
  August 22, 2016 at 11:55 pm
  
  It is not the letter the editor has referred to but it is in my letter titled “I Still Think A Tunnel For A281 Traffic Is The Best Option“.
  
  I have also suggested another north south tunnel to take the through traffic heading for the A25 and the A3 from the A281 and the A3100. This could be found on my website by searching for ‘revamp guildford gyratory’.
  
  Apologies. Thank you for pointing out error. Correction made. Ed.
Bernard Parke Reply

August 20, 2016 at 2:43 pm

When as a councillor I served on the planning committee during the eighties, a policy was introduced to restrict parking facilities in the town centre.

All new business premises had to provide shower rooms to enable employees to cycle to work and refresh themselves when they arrives at their places of businesses.

The policy no longer seems to exist. Perhaps it is that the bicycle was not popular and the park and ride system seemed to be more acceptable.
C Barker Reply

August 21, 2016 at 7:46 am

I would not cycle in Guildford because the roads are nowhere near good enough. It’s hard enough driving my car zig-zagging around the pot holes. If I had a pound for every time a cyclist has done this in front of me whilst driving I would have enough money to pay for the resurfacing myself.
John Cooke Reply

August 21, 2016 at 8:42 am

I try to commute from Woking to Guildford or Worplesdon as often as possible but the cycle path on the A320 is very badly maintained: vegetation is overgrown and the condition of the path is terrible from Whitmoor Rd to Burdenshott Rd, where, effectively, it ends until you get past Slyfield.

Motorists don’t want to be held up by cyclist and that’s understandable, and makes using the road a dangerous and unpleasant option. If the local authorities seriously wanted us to cycle, they’d look after the path. I have registered these complaints on their website with no reply or action.

It takes 30 minutes to cycle from Woking to Guildford and it’s a pleasant journey a decent crossing point and path in a couple of places would make the journey safer and quicker.
- Paul Bishop Reply
  
  August 21, 2016 at 7:13 pm
  
  I often do a similar commute and always feel that when I can, I should cycle. Unfortunately, riding on the road (even at a respectable pace) seems to cause untold anger and aggression from car drivers. This includes people not giving space, rushing overtakes and squeezing me off the road to miss the oncoming cars.
  
  This year alone I have cycled nearly 2,000 miles all around the UK, Spain and France. However, the riding around Guildford and Woking is the only time I’ve ever felt in real danger. I’d love to say it was down to poor road infrastructure or poor planning for cyclists, but the sad reality is the majority of drivers in this area are just incredibly selfish and unobservant. All they care about is how they can get to their destination as quickly as possible.
  
  Selfishness and lack of respect for fellow residents seems to be quite common in this area actually. Whether it’s the constant “not in my back yard” objections to any kind of development in the area or the driving I experience on my cycles. The attitude behind the behaviour seems very consistent.
David Raison Reply

August 21, 2016 at 8:58 am

If this proposal stops people cycling on the pavement then it’s a good idea. However, the outcome will probably be “shared” areas which put pedestrians at risk.

It’s time the pedestrian was considered. Cyclists do not have the right to ride on the pavement; they are road vehicles and should be treated as such.