Whitecliff cycle lane petition started over fears about speeding

BCP Council is due to start work imminently on the new cycle lane at Whitecliff Park in Poole.

It follows a public consultation last year over plans to make the Whitecliff and Baiter route safer by giving cyclists and pedestrians a separate lane each.

However, the organiser of a new petition has concerns the cycle lane will become a ‘fast-lane’ posing a risk to pedestrians, specifically families with children.

An image from the consultation last year

The organiser of the petition Paul G, said: “Whitecliff and Baiter are used by many local and visiting families who enjoy the benefits and pleasures of a safe ‘traffic free’ environment where children, including toddlers can run freely.

"It is astonishing that BCP is jeopardising their enjoyment and their safety by introducing an open cycle route into this pedestrianised family friendly environment.”

Read more: Cycle and pedestrian improvements approved for Whitecliff

The owner of the petition proposes moving the cycle way to alongside a nearby railway line, or if the location cannot be changed, putting a fence between the two paths to prevent ‘inevitable collision, near misses or altercation'.

The petition has been signed by nearly 800 people.

Petition over Whitecliff cycle lane

However, a BCP Council spokesperson, said more than three quarters of the people who responded to last year's consultation "agreed with the proposed improvements".

“The proposed design has been developed to separate pedestrians and cyclists along the route by a grass strip, 1.5 metres in width for most of the proposed route.

“It is not true to suggest, as some have, that the new path is designed for high-speed commuting. In fact, less than one in ten cyclists who responded to the consultation said they ever use it for commuting.

Read more: You take your life in your hands cycling at Whitecliff in Poole

“Speed limits on paths in parks are not enforceable. This includes the current shared path. However, we are working with our parks department on signs that will encourage considerate behaviour by all users. We will monitor use of the route after the work is completed, including cyclist speed."

Over suggestions the route could be moved, the spokesperson said this would have required cyclists to use Whitecliff Road and its busy junction with Sandbanks Road.

“Many potential cyclists on this route are children or less confident riders, so sharing the route with motorists would not have achieved the objectives for which the council was awarded the funding by the Government", they added.