Disaster for the Landscape and Walkers, conflict for Cyclists?
No one said it would be easy to impliment a green transport initiative while keeping a green rural landscape.
Here is a verdant rural gap between Bishop’s Cleeve and Cheltenham.
If a cycleway is needed why not hide it the other side of the hedge on the right?
Instead it’s proposed to remove the hedge and trees, replace them with green rubberised cycle track and include a footway in the field.
Urbanising infrastructure such as streetlights and speed limits are also proposed and further along the route are shared spaces where walkers out for a stroll can come into conflict with cyclists trying to make progress.
The Government ‘Gear Change’ guidance instead says to think of bikes as vehicles and keep them separate from other traffic including walkers.
Pedestrians and motor vehicles are already segregated – see the footway and carriageway.
Surely all the scheme needs is a cycleway just inside the field – without removing the hedge.
Whilst welcoming walking and cycling improvement plans, Ramblers resists proposals
of detriment to walkers. Ramblers strives to defend footpaths and protect the countryside.
Download
GR-Gloucs-Cycle-Spine-2024-02-26.pdf