News / cycling
Photo of Bristol’s sub-standard cycling infrastructure goes viral
“‘Excellent’” Bristol cycling infrastructure latest” tweeted Ben Nathan above a photo that has now gone viral of Park Row with its plastic wands lying in the road and vehicles parked both on the pavement and blocking the cycle lane.
“I took the photo because I finally snapped at seeing the permanent lawlessness and impunity in Bristol regarding pavement parking and blocking of pavements and cycle lanes,” said Ben, 40, who lives in Stokes Croft and runs a hospitality business.
“I see vulnerable pedestrians and cyclists put into dangerous situations all day every day, both here, and on my cycle commute to Bath where I work. There is a complete lack of active travel infrastructure here, and no plans for anything of any significance.
“I moved from London three years ago and the difference in car priority and the lack of established cycle corridors is genuinely shocking and scary for a large European city in 2022, with a long established mayor and administration.
“Pavement parking is banned in London. But in Bristol, with zero enforcement or segregation infrastructure, cycle lanes and pavements are used as laybys or loading bays effectively. It reminds me of rural Albania or North Macedonia!”
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Read more: ‘Cycling in Bristol has never been so frustrating’
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Labour councillor Marley Bennett recently tweeted “why quality walking & cycling infrastructure is so important”.
Rather than improving cycling infrastructure, however, a cycle lane has been removed on Cheltenham Road.
But despite the ‘improvements’ being roundly criticised, cabinet member for transport Don Alexander called the controversial new Cheltenham Road and Ashley Road junction an “excellent” scheme.
Cycling campaigner Sarah Berry is one of those who have taken issue with this statement.
She said: “As a cyclist who lives on this junction, I can tell you that there is nothing excellent about it if your priority is staying alive.”
She later tweeted: “The first thing anyone should have to do when they become a local councillor is make three local journeys: one by bike, one in a wheelchair, and one with a buggy.”
Alexander is a self-confessed fan of buses, who also regularly travels around Bristol on a Voi e-scooter.
Bristol24/7 has requested an interview with Alexander to talk through what the city council is doing to improve safety for cyclists and pedestrians across the city.
Main photo: Ben Nathan
Read next:
- Crackdown promised on ‘disrespectful’ parking
- ‘I’ve cycled from Bristol to Kazakhstan but I’m still scared on Gloucester Road’
- ‘If you’re putting others in danger due to unsafe cycling – please stop’
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