A cyclist who commutes to work five days a week says something needs to be done about the conditions she has to face on her bike every journey.
Elke Edwards, 59, of Long Eaton, cycles from home to her work as a security guard at Bilborough College five times a week. She goes through Stapleford2 and then all the way up the A6002 Coventry Lane / Bilborough Road to get to her destination. And she said that the section of Coventry Lane between Bramcote Crematorium and the junction with the A609 near Balloon Wood is the worst part of all.
Read more: Thieves steal charity boxes from Ilkeston hospital twice in two weeks3
She said: “On my way to work I use cycle paths wherever possible. However, they are so overgrown and badly damaged by previous frosts or tree roots, that it sometimes makes them impossible to use.
“I have been smacked in the face several times by overhanging branches, especially when they’re wet, and nearly been knocked off my cycle.
“So I’m forced to use the road, but the roads are badly damaged, especially the drains, which have dropped and created a hazard which you have to avoid.
“Car drivers4 swear at me, beep their horns or give me rude sign language. I just want to make drivers aware of these problems, and see that it isn’t that easy on a cycle path either. We have a reason to be on the roads.”
Read more: Mum-of-two battles rare illness after being bitten by a tick in Wollaton Park5
She said she had contacted the county council about the problem and been told they would inspect the paths and get back to her within ten working days. She said that was on September 21 but she hasn’t heard anything back yet, 15 working days later. Garry Chadburn, team manager for Via East Midlands, which is managing highways services on behalf of Nottinghamshire County Council, said: “Maintaining cycle paths across the county is a key focus for us. We appreciate the specific issue raised and we are currently investigating it further.”
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Work begins on the ‘Quiet Route’
Last month the Post reported how Nottingham City Council was planning to make some one-way streets two-way for bikes, in order to make the city centre more cycle-friendly.
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And this week work started on another project for cyclists – a cycle route past some of the city’s tourist atttractions.
The ‘Quiet Route’ is the latest element of the city council’s Cycle City Ambition Programme. The new route aims to provide a peaceful journey from Canning Circus to Castle Boulevard, giving the opportunity to take in some of Nottingham’s loveliest architecture and main tourist sites. The Trip to Jerusalem, Brewhouse Yard, the Castle, Nottingham Playhouse and the Cathedral are all on or nearby the route.
It will provide a link to the Western Corridor route on Castle Boulevard from Canning Circus. Work to develop the new low-traffic quiet cycle route began on Tuesday and will be completed next month. Councillor Nick McDonald, portfolio holder for Business, Growth and Transport at the council, said: “The Cycle City Ambition Programme is looking to make cycling in the city centre more joined up, to make it easier for cyclists to move from one of the Cycle City Ambition Programme Corridors to another.
“This route gives an added benefit to cyclists it gives a chance to see some of the city’s most iconic buildings close up.
It will be fun route to cycle in its own right and will be safer than travelling on the main roads.”
The Nottingham Cycle City Ambition Programme is funded by Nottingham City Council and the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership, which approved the 6.1m funding last year.
References
- ^ Comments (3) (www.nottinghampost.com)
- ^ Stapleford (www.nottinghampost.com)
- ^ Thieves steal charity boxes from Ilkeston hospital twice in two weeks (www.nottinghampost.com)
- ^ Car drivers (www.nottinghampost.com)
- ^ Mum-of-two battles rare illness after being bitten by a tick in Wollaton Park (www.nottinghampost.com)
- ^ some one-way streets two-way for bikes (www.nottinghampost.com)