Dear editor,
Bedford has always been until recently a ’Town of Cyclists’ since the invention of the safety cycle, not to the extent of Cambridge or Oxford but nevertheless in the top quartile of UK cycling towns/cities.
Read: Councillor calls for “more signage” as debate rages on town centre cycling ban
Read: Letters: “Even cyclists need to obey the law”
Often overlooked is the fact that the bicycle is also a means of transport for shopping. For many older or partially disabled residents as well as the disadvantaged the use of a bicycle to and in the town centre is a real benefit and a significant economic benefit to the town itself.
The majority of cyclists are reasonable people and will dismount if an area becomes too congested. They are no more dangerous (or even less so) than bulkier mobility scooters.
This was borne out by a report for the Department for Transport some years ago.
This report concluded that the majority of cyclists in Vehicle Restricted Areas (TRAs) modified their behaviour and slowed down or dismounted as pedestrian numbers increased.
It also found that the majority of pedestrians were not particularly concerned [about cyclists].
An earlier ‘Manual for Streets’ stated that if an existing street is closed off to motor traffic it should generally remain open for cyclists and pedestrians.
Read: Fury as deputy mayor ignores consultation results on town centre cycle ban
The Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act of 2014 enabled local authorities to raise Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) and Bedford introduced its first three-year order in 2016.
This included actions on litter dropping and others and, contrary to expectations, the banning of cyclists of all types in the pedestrianised areas of the town centre due to the irresponsible behaviour of a few young cyclists racing through the town centre with some doing wheelies.
Visitors fined
At an earlier meeting with the Cycling Campaign for North Bedfordshire (CCNB), the police said that they would only stop and issue fines to the latter.
In 2018 the council contracted an aggressive agency to ‘police’ the order and in its first nine months had given out a total of 3200 fines for various offences including 1127 to cyclists.
A number of these were UK/European tourists while the perpetrators who caused the anti-social behaviour remained fine-free.
In the last few months, a further 738 cyclists have been fined.
The outcome has been a large drop in residents cycling to the town to do their shopping, etc.
Read: Round-the-world cyclist, Josh Quigley fined in Bedford town centre
From 2006 when CCNB started cycle counts there had been a 40% rise up to 2016, then with the onset of fines, the number dropped with further significant drops due to the closure of the large stores followed by the COVID-19 lockdowns.
Today the level is 40% below what it was in 2006.
In the government’s 2018 ‘Inclusive Transport Strategy’ document it stated that by 2020 it would explore the feasibility of amending legislation to recognise the use of cycles as a mobility aid to increase the number of disabled people cycling.
This legislation is still outstanding.
There are currently no safe north-south or east-west cycle routes through the town centre and this is one reason why so many cyclists use the pedestrianised areas (and still do today) to travel from one side of the town centre to the other.
A number of consultants over the past twenty years have said that the town’s connectivity should be remedied when possible with one report stating that Bedford had fallen way behind towns of a similar size.
Danger to cyclists
In 2008 it was proposed in the Town Centre Action Plan that when the A6 Western bypass was completed (opened as the Great Ouse Way in April 2015) the down-graded High Street would be de-trafficked to general vehicular traffic, except for buses, delivery vehicles, taxis, private hire vehicles, cycles and emergency services and a two-way safe cycle track introduced.
This was not implemented when the pavements were recently widened by reducing the carriageway to one lane.
Today the High Street during the daytime has a continuous stream of traffic of all types including large HGVs and car transporters with build-ups as far back as Tavistock Street making it a safety hazard for cyclists cycling north to south but also for pedestrians due to pollution and the many vehicles driving on to the wide pavement.
In addition, the wide pavement is used mainly but not exclusively in the south-to-north direction by lots of cyclists, including those illegally riding modified e-bikes and illegal e-scooters.
To cycle east-west it was proposed, planned and approved some years ago but never constructed that a safe two-way, part off-road route would be constructed from St Loyes to the railway station via Lime Street, Bromham Road, Roise Street, Brace Street, Hassett Street, Greyfriars, Alexandra Place, Alexandra Road and Woburn Road.
Climate change with its extreme weather conditions is now irreversible and affects the whole planet, such as the recent high rainfall and its consequences in Bedfordshire).
It is therefore extremely important that all residents play their part in attempting to prevent it from getting worse, not tomorrow but today.
The main greenhouse gas affecting global emissions and the climate is carbon dioxide mainly emitted from transport which in Bedford is 41% of total emissions.
Cycling can play an important role in helping to reduce emissions and save the planet as well as improving a person’s health and the NHS budget.
Around 71% of all trips are less than five miles and 50% are less than two miles. Everybody should therefore consider whether their trip could be made using sustainable modes such as by bus/train for long trips and by cycling or walking for shorter trips or as part of a longer journey.
It is therefore important that connectivity for cyclists is improved in and through the town centre.
Peter Blakeman
Chair
Cycling Campaign for North Bedfordshire (CCNB)
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