FROM the back end of a bus, the City of York Council exhorts us to "cycle to work for a healthy heart". Yet a would-be-cyclist from Strensall argues the roads are not safe, especially where no cycle lane exists. Should he venture into Huntington, his journey would be no safer, despite a virtually unbroken cycle lane with bollards, chicanes and mini-roundabouts galore.
Most of these improvements simply breed bad behaviour. Most motorists now 'take no chance' on reaching the chicane before the oncoming vehicle, leading to more and more incidents where two vehicles come-face-to-face, at speed: to avoid a collision, they swerve, both ending up in the respective cycle lanes. These traffic-calming measures have made cyclists virtually invisible, often causing serious alarm or injury.
If the council wants more people to cycle to work it should stop wallowing in the misleading, misguided myth that York is cycle-friendly.
Cycling can only be safe and good for your heart when cycle lanes are separated completely from other traffic.
J Marshall,
North Moor,
Huntington,
York.
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