Worthing cyclist fears someone could be killed by promenade ‘speedsters’

‘Speedsters’ along Worthing promenade need to be stopped before somebody is killed, according to a concerned resident.
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Phil Abbott, a retiree from Worthing, is a keen cyclist who has been using the promenade for years.

He has also been fighting a long-running campaign for safety measures to combat speeding cyclists and, more recently, electric scooter users.

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Despite ‘badgering’ Worthing Borough Council, Phil said he was despairing at the lack of action.

Worthing man Phil Abbott is concerned about fast cyclists and scooter riders along the seafront. Pic Steve Robards SR2010202 SUS-201021-103448001Worthing man Phil Abbott is concerned about fast cyclists and scooter riders along the seafront. Pic Steve Robards SR2010202 SUS-201021-103448001
Worthing man Phil Abbott is concerned about fast cyclists and scooter riders along the seafront. Pic Steve Robards SR2010202 SUS-201021-103448001

“It’s like they have got to wait for someone to be killed and they might step up a gear and do something about it,” he said.

“A lot of people may not want to come to Worthing because they are scared of getting knocked over on the promenade.

“We need to see kids being able to play without fear of getting run over by cyclists. They need to come up with a solution.”

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Phil stressed his campaign was not about stigmatising cyclists, but about controlling the irresponsible minority.

He has emailed a number of suggestions to the council, such as warning signs or digital speed displays to show how fast users were travelling.

While the council did put up some temporary signs, Phil has called for more permanent action.

The situation has got worse during the pandemic, he said, as more people have started cycling and electric scooters are more popular.

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Although illegal on public roads, the promenade is classed as private land and therefore acceptable for e-scooters.

In an email to Phil in July, a senior lawyer for the council acknowledged there were ‘concerns’ about the speed of cyclists and it was reviewing restrictions and signage to improve safety. No actions have been taken since.

Worthing Borough Council declined to comment.