Hackney Council’s pavement cycling trial sparks dismay from cyclists and pedestrians
Gear change: Cyclists now have the right to pedal on a stretch of pavement near Victoria Park, thanks to Hackney Council. Photograph: Eleonore de Bonneval
Cyclists can become the object of rage when they commit the apparently heinous crime of pedaling on pavements.
But now Hackney Council has sparked controversy by permitting the bell-tinging two-wheelers to mount a narrow stretch of walkway near Victoria Park… and stranger still, the cyclists themselves appear to be flummoxed by the decision.
An unmarked cycle path has been created on Victoria Park Road, meaning cyclists can now merrily zip in both directions along this busy one-way thoroughfare.
Hackney Cycling Campaign co-ordinator Trevor Parsons said: “We are generally opposed to cycling on pavements. It is a sticking plaster solution which doesn’t tackle the underlying problem.”
The street, located next to the cyclists’ paradise of Victoria Park, is dominated by parked cars on both sides of the road.
The Hackney Cycling Campaign wants the council to clamp down harder on on-street car parking to clear stretches of tarmac for cyclists.
Living Streets, a group which campaigns on behalf of pedestrians, is similarly dismayed by the new pavement cycle path.
Its coordinator Brenda Puech said: “There’s very little space to walk, let alone for cyclists.”
She added: “This narrow footway has a steep cross fall and regular width restrictions due to a bus stop and numerous sign posts and lamp posts. They have chosen to put the cyclists on the footway because they will not tackle car parking along the entire length of Victoria Park Road.”
Parking is limited for residents before 6pm, but after this time anyone can park there.
Mr Parsons said: “There’s an unwillingness to tackle the problem of private vehicles, even though borough-wide only 37 per cent of people have a car. A minority is slowing progress on improvements on streets.”
However, he stressed he was positive about the extent of progress made so far and felt the situation in Victoria Park Road was an anomaly.
Hackney Council’s Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods Councillor Feryal Demirci said:
“Victoria Park Road is a busy one-way road and a popular route for cyclists. There is a demand for cycling in both directions, especially after dark when Victoria Park is closed.
“We have had lots of requests over the years to allow two-way cycling along Victoria Park Road and other one-way streets in the area. The council’s general policy is to provide for cycling on the carriageway wherever possible. Victoria Park Road is a designated ‘A’ road used by heavy goods vehicles and buses. The usable road width is too narrow to allow two-way cycling.
“Our long-term aim is to allow cycling in both directions on the carriageway, but any proposal will need to be developed for the whole area. We will need to assess whether a viable solution is feasible, what the impacts would be and if it is supported by local residents.
“As an interim measure we are allowing cyclists on a stretch of the footway.
“This improves permeability for cyclists without the need for extensive physical or traffic management changes. We have installed tactile paving and signs to ensure awareness of the shared use footway.
“We recognise that not everyone is in favour of the changes and are monitoring the road over the next six-12 months to help us understand the impacts and develop a long term solution.”
“Cyclists can become the object of rage when they commit the apparently heinous crime of pedaling on pavements.” Nice note of sarcasm there – ever had a cyclist speed round a blind corner on the pavement – a blind corner mark you – and almost mow you down? I have; an elderly person wouldn’t have been able to manoevre away from this guy. He thought that because I’d not been laid out there was no problem. Ever had one bear down on your young kids on the pavement and expect them to get out of the way? If you’re going to write journalism, please remember the bias is for the comments section!
Cycling should be allowed on pavements where the road is one way as it can otherwise mean a long detour round the whole one way system and one way systems are only aimed at making roads faster for motorists and therefore more dangerous for cyclists.
I have been using Victoria Park Road for the last year when the park is closed after park as the is the only sensible way to cycle to the Cadogen Terrace / Victoria Park Road corner. I cycle past predestrians with my feet on the floor and I get constant abuse for cycling on the path even though that are shared doorway signs. I wasn’t let past my two guys tonight who when I explained it was a shared footway contiued to not let me pass even when I stepped off my bike to walk it around and have a polite conversation regarding the difficulty of sharing the pathway – to which I was told to F*** off.
Something should be done for both cyclists and predestrians