CYCLING IN WORTHING

The future is bright, the future is 20sPlenty (even though Worthing Borough Council forgot to add it to the agenda of the 20th July Council meeting!!!)

20sPlenty explained, this is the original PP presentation to be given to us, The Worthing Cycle Forum, an updated version was given to Worthing Borough Councillors in April. Click this to see it20splenty for Worthing. Our Honourable Councillors gave it the thumbs up!

20sPlenty for us web site 0r 20sPlenty for Worthing

This page is designed to help you with tips on how and where to ride around the town and is currently under construction. The reason for the page being open before it is finished is for you to access information about 20sPlenty. The debate must begin. If you disagree with any of this or know my facts to be wrong please contact me jp@questadventure.co.uk

Worthing Herald poll results on 20mph speed limits (click here then click on the drop down to see the 20mph results 59% in favour)

Worthing Borough Council could not vote on a motion to request WSCC to look into 20mph speed restrictions as it did not get put on the agenda. In an attempt to keep the debate going I asked the Council a question during "Public question time" at the 20th July meeting. The question is below. I will publish the answer once I have been able to interpret it with the help of a local politician.

Our question to WBC on 20th July:

At the council meeting on 31st March 2010 there was a presentation by Mr Duncan Kay of Worthing Revolutions Cycle Group entitled "20s Plenty". It gave details of how a default speed of 20mph would help to save lives and reduce pollution if adopted for Worthing

At the same meeting, Councillor John Rogers, who was then the Cycle Champion, advised the council that a motion would be put forward at the next council meeting, following the annual meeting, asking Worthing Borough Council to request West Sussex County Council, as the highways authority, to investigate and report on the practicality of introducing a 20mph limit for all residential roads in Worthing other than designated major routes such as the A24.

I would like to know, therefore, why this motion is not on the council agenda this evening and to seek an assurance that it WILL BE on the next council agenda.

Worthing residents need to be debating road saftey in the town.

Facts:

• Worthing is a great town for cycling
• Worthing has 3 times the national average of cyclists at 6% of journeys to work, the national average is 2%
• Worthing has the highest percentage of cyclists in the county
• Worthing is flat.
• Worthing has a large and enthusiastic population of sports and recreational cyclist due to the immediate proximity of the Downs and the mass of quiet county Sussex lanes. These men and women help provide the catalyst to promote increased cycling in the town.
• Worthing has an active and enthusiastic Cycling Champion, Councillor John Rogers.

More facts and our roads.

• In Britain we have the most dangerous roads in Europe for all but drivers.
• Most people fear the roads because they are full of drivers, British drivers (you, your freinds and family)
• British drivers (you, me etc) are unique in Europe as we have grown up with successive governments prioritising vehicle use over all other users of the roads
• British drivers (you, me and your most loved ones) drive as if we have a divine right to unobstructed roads, traffic may have to be tolerated, but whoa betide any pedestrians or cyclists that get in the way.
• Try crossing the road opposite the shop and see if any one stops to let you cross. See if drivers can recognise human beings
• Towns have been designed for cars ever since I can remember. Don't people live in towns?
• If you disagree, let your six year old cycle to school as he or she would on the continent.

Write to your councillor to ask them to vote for 20mph restrictions at their meeting in July. Here is my letter

I have heard that the Council is unanimously in favour of introducing 20mph speed restrictions on selective residential roads in the Borough. I would like to congratulate you on being so supportive on such a commendable scheme.

Whilst it is not your fault that British drivers have become the most dangerous in Europe (the blame for this is lies with central government) you do have a chance to begin the slow process of re education.

I am sure that Worthing (like similar towns on the continent) can become a safe place where drivers stop to let pedestrians cross, children cycle to school and even shoppers and workers cycle into town. This will go a long way to solving Worthing's apparent congestion and parking problems.

Can I count on your vote in favour of the proposal next month?

Cycle lanes.

Whether you beleive that they are the solution or not the fact is that there will not be any adequate or beneficial cycle routes in Worthing in the foreseeable future. If you don't believe that ask West Sussex County Council for its proposed plan for Worthing.

• I am not aware of any cycle lanes in the area that meet the Department for Transport guide lines.
• West Sussex County Council has a budget for just £300,000 for cycling for the whole county.
• No monies are allocated for schemes in our area meeting the DfT guidelines
• WSCC cycle routes.

Worthing Cycle Forum believes that reducing driving speeds to 20mph in residential areas is a solution both acheivable & affordable.

How & where to ride in Worthing

How to ride?

The official view: The Highway Code for Cyclists

Whilst you need to take care it will be impossible to ride safely if you don't actually beleive that you have a right to be in the road no matter how nervous you are. If you beleive that you don't have a right to be on the road you'll have to ride on the pavement and people don't like that. You will never be tooted for riding the way described below because the drivers will accept you as a road user - hide in the gutter and you will be abused.

There is no national standard but John Franklin's "Cyclecraft" is held up as THE definitive text on how to cycle.

Below is some advice from us if you don't have time to read the above publication.

Rule number one: RIDE WIDE

• In the Highway code drivers are told, when overtaking, to allow the same amount of room for a cyclist as they would a car.
• The wider you ride the more room a car will give you, try it.
• When the road narrows, for example where there is a central refuge for pedestrians, you should rider wider, further away from the curb. If you do not the cars that were giving you a wide berth will cut in to make through the obstruction without slowing down. Pull out and the cars will slow. Do not pull out suddenly, ride wider before you get to the gap.
• As a driver you will be aware of the gap that a car will require to pass through, if you leave enough room for car it will go through the gap. If you feel that the approaching gap is not wide enough for both you and a vehicle at the speed of the traffic you had better pull out before to reduce the size of the gap thus encouraging the driver to slow, if you do this they will slow, try it.
• When approaching parked cars or one of those curb extensions to make crossing safer for pedstians you will need to pull out. Indicate just as you would do when driving and begin to pull out early, don't try to pull out suddenly at he last minute.
• See the advice for the Institute of Advanced Motorist below

How wide is wide?

• The distance from the curb will depend on traffic speed.
• At 15mph a car brushing your elbow may be almost acceptable.
• At 20mph a car passing a metre may be worrying, at 30mph a two metres away may be frightening, at 40 mph you'll want the cars passing as far away as possible,
• The faster the traffic the further you need to be from the curb, you will be more visible and cars will give you a wider berth.
• Some roads are safer than others, when you find one of these where drivers are slow you can ride closer to the curb

Rule number two: BE SEEN

• Use lights virtually all the time. Modern flashing LEDs are effective, (and affordable) even in daylight.
• Cycling clothing is reflective
• Flouro yellow is the brightest colour and is the best colour at the two most dangerous times: dust & dawn, poor light and the busiest time for the roads
• Low is best, reflective ankle straps are better (and cheaper) than £200 head torches.

Rule number three: DON'T BREAK THE LAW

• Jumping lights is a no-no
• Riding on the pavement is against the law. However, it is accepted that most parents tell their childern not to ride on the road.
• Don't ride without lights

Rule number four: BE CONSIDERATE OF OTHER ROAD USERS

• Don't treat pedestrians, fellow cyclists, equestrians or drivers in the same way that car/van/lorry drivers treat you.

Where to ride?

• Worthing Borough Council is trying to help with routes but the link on its site to WSCC doen't actually show the routes
• Don't chose the same route that you would use when driving.
• Chose side roads
• Use narrow roads as cars drive slower
• Pick roads that you know, from driving experience, that speeds rarely reach 30mph
• Roads with constant street parking restrict traffic flow and can be a benefit to cyclists, often it is impossible for a car to pass a cyclist making it very safe

More route information can be found on Worthing Revolutions. They provide the link between all cycling groups in Worthing from WBC & WSCC to Sustrans and Quest Adventure and you.

Route suggestions welcome mail JP@questadventure.co.uk

Beauty and the Bike - what some girls are doing in Darlington. A short movie about cycling and What happened next?

The Institute of Advanced Motorists states that "CYCLIST MUST CLAIM THEIR LANE"

If you read this you'll see that, from a sensible drivers perspective, "riding wide" is a good idea. I woud not, however, recommend following their advice and pull in closer to the curb on long striaght stretches. You should ALWAYS be at least a metre from the curb.

Institute of Advanced Motorist recommends increasing visibility and 'asserting presence' to raise safety while riding
The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) has advised cyclists to "claim their lane" to boost their safety on the roads.

The organisation said that by moving out to the middle of the lane when approaching a junction or parked cars, cyclists are raising their visibility to drivers.

Studies have reportedly shown that drivers primarily pay attention to the major stream of traffic when navigating junctions, and consequently paying little attention to auxiliary roads that are more likely to have cyclists on them.

"There has been some debate as to whether cyclists should stick to the kerb or push out into the road when riding in built-up areas," explained Duncan Pickering, IAM Cycling Development Manager.

"Our advice to cyclists, based on a comprehensive study, is to stay near to the kerb on long even stretches, but to assert yourself when approaching a junction, pushing out into the road and putting yourself in the direct view of drivers.
 
"Sticking to the kerb where drivers are not necessarily looking means they are less likely to see you."

Pickering added: "Drivers are more likely to notice bikes travelling in the same direction as the oncoming traffic and, when turning left, mainly focus their attention on cars coming from the right, as they don't see the left as posing a particular threat.
This means they fail to see cyclists from the left early enough."

The IAM recommends that cyclists:"

• Take up a primary position around 75-100m before reaching a junction, in the centre of the lane, providing it is safe to do so. This move will mean that drivers exiting the junction will be more likely to see the cyclist as they are in the same traffic flow as more hazardous vehicles.
• Take the "secondary position" when cycling along a straight stretch of road which is clear of junctions and parked cars.
• Keep a sensible distance, about half a meter, from the kerb to avoid hazards such as slippery drain-covers.
• Remember it is not always sensible or appropriate to take the centre of the lane especially if traffic is heavy."
• The IAM went on to stress that motorists lack of awareness is undoubtedly a huge factor in car/bike collisions, but it pays for the cyclist as the more vulnerable road user to be seen wherever possible."