A CYCLIST is calling for a “properly thought out cycle lane system” across the conurbation because he believes people are “too afraid” to cycle on the roads.

David Williams is a qualified HGV driver, car owner and motorbike rider who says he only uses his car to take his mother to hospital appointments and for family holidays.

He uses his motorbike around twice a week but the rest of the time he cycles, covering around 10 miles which takes 45-minutes each way.

He recently captured footage of various “silly cycle lane designs” on camera including Castle Lane West and Ringwood Road as well as bad driving behaviour from motorists including a cyclist being knocked off their bike.

David said: “I am asking for a properly thought out cycle lane system. The one we have at the moment is simply fuelling hatred for cyclists from drivers when they do not see us using them, for they do not understand why we won't use them and believe we are making their lives difficult on purpose, which of course is not the case.”

He also said if a relief road were ever to be built to ease congestion around Royal Bournemouth Hospital it would potentially “move the issue elsewhere” and says more people should use bikes instead of cars to get about.

Mr Williams said: “Induced demand, that is, build it, they will come- has been shown to occur on many new roads that were designed to reduce traffic jams. If the relief road is built, it may help for a year or so, after that the road will fill up just as every other new road does.”

At the end of the video he states: "We will use DECENT safe cycle paths/lanes. If we're not using them, there's a reason for it, it's not to create tension or annoy people. Most of them are debri ridden, bumpy, rutted, junction crossing wastes of space only suitable for a toddler on a tricycle. No wonder people are too afraid to cycle here."

He also said we should look to the Netherlands and take inspiration from their “safe cycling infrastructure.”

Mr Williams added: “Unless something like this is done, or for some reason the car population suddenly plummets, the traffic situation in this area is not going to improve.”

Jason Falconer, chairman of Bournemouth Cycling Forum, said: “Cycle officers need to have more guts, funding and make bold moves and look to places like Manchester where they are making continuous protected cycleways for the first time. That’s also what’s being put in in London.”

Megan Streb, partnerships manager at Sustrans, said: "We know from our Bike Life reports that a majority of people would like to cycle more often, but don’t always feel safe doing so. Infrastructure that is too narrow, too close to speeding traffic, or doesn’t consider all users at junctions, doesn’t give a feeling of safety. Bike Life, with over 7,000 responses as a representative sample of seven UK cities, also found that 78% of residents support building more protected roadside cycle lanes, even when this could mean less space for other road traffic."

PANEL

Bournemouth council said the following cycling initiatives currently taking place:

• Cycle lanes along Wimborne Road (Richmond Hill-Cemetery Jct).

• Richmond Hill - Uphill cycle lane and 20mph zone.

• Cycle lanes along Christchurch Rd (Pokesdown Hill to Iford Rbt).

• Cycle facilities along Ringwood Road (Longham to Bearcross).

• A number of cycle cut-throughs and contraflows. These provide cyclists with new, more direct and often quieter routes: improving access between homes and employment, education and retail centres.

• The Stour Valley Way (Hengistbury Head to Tuckton Tea Gardens).

• The Stour Valley Way (adjacent to Iford Lane).

• Several Toucan crossings (e.g. St Swithun's Road South, Christchurch Road by Iford Rbt)

• Parallel (Tiger) crossings at Poole Lane, Belle Vue Road, Tuckton Rbt.

• Installation of additional cycle parking (e.g. Winton).

• 20mph zones in the Town Centre.

• The recent Look Out Campaign (signage on Talbot Rbt, Boundary Rbt, East Ave Rbt).

A spokesperson for Bournemouth council said: "We are also about to commence work on our Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) which will help us to develop enhanced cycling and walking networks in the future.

"People who currently cycle and those who would like to cycle more, can make suggestions for improvements to the Cycling Team at the council, via the Bournemouth Cycle Forum, or other cycling groups such as the Dorset Cyclists Network (DCN). Consultation will also take place as part of the LCWIP process."