Cycling research should be taken seriously

By-laws banning riding on this stretch of the prom between Splash Point and George V Avenue have, of course, been flouted for years.

But now cyclists are being given carte blanche to enjoy this vehicle-free experience, despite controversy over whether permission for it should ever have been given in the first place.

It's something which (as was the English Civil War) is a real, family-divisive issue '“ even causing a split between the respective Conservative administrations at County Hall and Worthing Town Hall.

At one stage, Worthing Tories wanted the cycle route kept to the seafront road, although the county council would help to fund the scheme only if the promenade was used. County Hall won out, eventually, but there's another on-going argument over the fact that cyclists and pedestrians will be "sharing" the promenade, instead of there being a designated cycle lane.

Despite the fact that most cyclists will heed official advice and ride with consideration for pedestrians, there are going to be other riders, both young and older, likely to cause problems.

It's debatable whether the elderly and children on two feet will be safer with a designated cycle lane . . . it's so easy for the vulnerable to stray on to it without thinking.

Many readers will recall that during a previous western prom cycling trial period, in 1995, a designated lane was in place when a "wantonly careless" rider rode into and seriously injured a woman visitor.

The accident occurred beyond the lane's confines, but did the lane give this speeding cyclist a continuing, false "sense of security?"

It is worth noting that cycling promotion body Sustrans is now in talks with West Sussex County Council over removing the designated bike lane from the seafront path between Lancing and Shoreham, thus converting the scheme to shared use.

Sustrans says its feedback on the scheme suggests many people feel this would make cyclists ride more carefully.

The Herald, in addition to approving the coming trial period at Worthing, feels that Sustrans' research views should be taken seriously.

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