Pushing Pedals: If You Like Cycling for Fun, Be Sure to Respond to This One

Published on: 2 Oct, 2021
Updated on: 2 Oct, 2021

This is the latest monthly column on local cycling by the Guildford Bicycle User Group (G-BUG). Its vision is to make cycling in Guildford safer, more convenient and fun. Members share a passion for making the borough more accessible through increased cycling.

By Bridie Sullivan

It’s official. Surrey cyclists like to cycle for fun. According to new figures from the Department for Transport (DfT), south-east cyclists are more likely to use their bicycles for leisure and fun than any other region in England.

Photo by Andrew Gook.

Cycling has increased by 26% in 2020 nationally compared to 2019. Cyclists in the South East are also travelling much further and are also some of those most likely to cycle to work.

With ownership or access to a bicycle continuing to grow, especially in the under 17 age group, and showing no sign of slowing down, it’s become increasingly important that towns and cities have the right infrastructure to support the surge.

Photo by Chris Robert.

If you respond to one call for action this year, it has to be the Surrey County Council’s consultation for their Local Transport Plan 4 (LTP4), open until October 24, 2021. It’s important that you have your say on the future of our walking and cycling infrastructure in and around Guildford.

It includes their roadmap to reduce the 46% of carbon emissions currently generated by transport. The ambition is to increase the safety of walking and cycling routes to encourage more people to find alternatives to their car.

Photo by David Vives.

Recent DfT research found that over 50% of respondents would be encouraged to cycle if the roads were safer.

So it’s a welcome launch of the updated Highway Code guidance later this year which is expected to give cyclists more protection by establishing a “hierarchy of road users”. We anticipate the most vulnerable to harm ranked and the greatest responsibility placed on drivers for the safety of other road users. Among the changes proposed by the transport secretary, will be giving cyclists greater priority over vehicles at zebra crossings and junctions.

If you would like to share your feedback with G-BUG, email us at info@g-bug.org or join our mailing list to be kept up to date on ours.

Safe cycling!

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Responses to Pushing Pedals: If You Like Cycling for Fun, Be Sure to Respond to This One

Simon Firth Reply

October 3, 2021 at 9:07 am

Yes cycling is fun, but it is also a really practical free alternative to get in and around town. It is healthy, gives you happy endorphins and in this state of fuel shortages some reassurance and independence from the car. I know I can save my car for the journeys where I have next to no other choice.

Certainly the infrastructure needs improving, especially with links to the north of Guildford, getting over the A3 where I live, but the advantages of the bike, even using the clunky routes in, far outweigh those of driving, especially with no bus/petrol/parking costs.

It is the smart choice of transport for small journeys.
David Haskins Reply

October 5, 2021 at 3:07 pm

Tried the LTP4 consultation but was utterly baffled by it. It was quite incomprehensible and I was unable to follow what exactly one had to do. A design triumph by someone with too much time on their hands. I thought consultation was about asking and listening, not pushing people through a labyrinth of click boxes and re-processed sound bites.

There was nowhere to express how terrifying Guildford’s broken roads are for cyclists.
- S Callanan Reply
  
  October 12, 2021 at 12:44 pm
  
  “There was nowhere to express how terrifying Guildford’s broken roads are for cyclists.”
  
  I take it that’s why they ride on the pavement at Tour de France speed terrifying pedestrians. And not in a cyclist/pedestrian designated area either.
Nigel Burke Reply

October 11, 2021 at 3:58 pm

Also, look out for the Surrey County Council consultation on Guildford’s Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) later this year.

The LTP defines the broad principles and priorities for the county, the LCWIP is where specific infrastructure requirements of each local council will be captured and prioritised for government funding.