Letter: The Active Travel Proposal Is the Safest Option for London Road

Published on: 21 Nov, 2024
Updated on: 21 Nov, 2024

From Howard Smith

Labour borough councillor for Westborough

In response to: We Need to Stop Shouting and Start Listening

I don’t think it has ever been claimed that the proposed scheme of pedestrian and cycle improvements on London Road in Burpham are 100 per cent safe, unfortunately nothing ever is.

However all the expert reports and reviews say that it is safer than the current route and I am happy to rely on the experts.

On the current route the danger is so great that very few cyclists even attempt to use it, for example, students at George Abbot school (I used to cycle to and from that school when I was a student there and the roads were quieter).

Quite rightly, the issue of safety is paramount for both sides of the discussion. But it is obvious to most that a collision between a cyclist and a pedestrian very rarely ends up with anything more than bumps and bruises whereas a collision between a cyclist and a vehicle can all too frequently result in a fatality.

So when weighing up which is the safer option then the choice is clear. Let us now see the Cabinet at SCC approve this scheme next Tuesday and have it go forward.