Council rules out Bournemouth promenade cycle lanes

Responding to calls to separate the two groups were made at Tuesday’s meeting of Bournemouth council with Cllr Gina Mackin suggesting that it would allow pedestrians “to enjoy their walk rather than dodging bikes every two seconds”.

However, Cllr Pat Oakley said that the idea had been investigated several times and that it would not improve on the existing shared space system which he said “generally works well”.

Last year, a 72-year-old woman was injured after being hit by a cyclist while walking along the promenade at Alum Chine with her husband.

It prompted calls from Cllr Philip Stanley-Watts for a review of the seafront cycling “situation”

The issue resurfaced at Tuesday’s meeting of the council when Cllr Mackin asked Cllr Oakley to look into the possibility of installing a cycle lane.

However, Cllr Pat Oakley responded saying that it had been investigated before and that the existing system was a better way to deal with the mix of pedestrians and cyclists.

“The issue of cycling on our seafront is perhaps the most commentated on and divisive challenge we have,” he said.

“The option of a cycle lane has been looked at in detail several times and has always been discounted because it would cause more conflict between cyclists and pedestrians with them both claiming their own space and would, indeed, encourage cyclists to cycle faster.

“Much of the pedestrian traffic on the promenade is across the prom – children from the beach huts to the sea and beach and so on – and implementing a route which gives cyclists the right of way will only exacerbate the current issues.

“The current system of shared space generally works well and the pedestrian has clear priority.

“The safety issue with regards to cycling is more to do with speed.”

The council’s rules for seafront cycling give priority to pedestrians, bans cycling from several sections of the beachfront and prohibits cyclists from using the promenade between 10am and 6pm during July and August.