Crap cycling in Cheltenham

MP AND keen cyclist Martin Horwood has hit out at "rubbish" cycle routes around Cheltenham.

He said areas which are for use by cyclists should be paved differently and separated from the road by a kerb instead of being marked by paint.

He said: "I would like to start building the core of a real cycle network across Cheltenham and abolish the pointless collection of painted lines that everyone ignores.

However

John Franklin, treasurer of Cheltenham Cycle Campaign, said the town was better for cycling than Gloucester where people have to navigate ring roads and fast-moving traffic.

But he admitted there were problems in Lansdown Road and other areas.

"There are a number of places where improvements are needed, " he said. Mr Franklin said the cycling network could be better if the county council had extra money to spend.

He said: "Cyclists don't want cycle routes. The best thing is the general road network which should be made more suitable."

Motorist Matt Fenn, who runs Cheltenham Courier, said Mr Horwood's idea of having separate, dedicated cycle lanes would not work in practice. He said: "The way Cheltenham is set up it would be impossible to have extra lanes, especially in the town centre.

"The roads are just not wide enough.