Sam Wilkes, from Cycle4Jersey, says that cities across Europe have begun making minor but highly beneficial changes to their infrastructure, such as the installation of pop-up cycle lanes. He has called on the Island’s authorities to do the same.
He said that a pop-up cycle lane could be created on Victoria Avenue to take the pressure off the path running along St Aubin’s Bay, which he described as having become congested in recent years.
‘We would like to see the infrastructure built and upgraded, but what we would definitely like to see in the meantime is things like pop-up lanes. That has been successfully done across Europe and I see no reason why that cannot be done here,’ he said.
Mr Wilkes has also suggested making changes to smaller roads and the Island’s network of green lanes to make them safer and more attractive to both cyclists and pedestrians.
‘What I am looking for is for Jersey not to be a follower and actually lead from the front. We have got an island of nine miles by five. We have got plenty of green lanes and we have been given this once-in-a-century opportunity to implement change on the back of coronavirus,’ he added.
In 2018, the Parish of St Saviour closed Chasse Brunet – a popular walking route for Grainville and FCJ School pupils – to through traffic as part of a year-long trial.
The change was eventually made permanent and a study found that there had been a 20% increase in pedestrian traffic during the morning peak time and a 41% increase during the afternoon peak.
Meanwhile, primary-school-aged children are also walking to and from the schools, some independently, which was not observed before the trial began. A similar trial is currently taking place in Rue de Maupertuis in St Clement.
Mr Wilkes said similar measures could be introduced on some of the Island’s green lanes.
‘There have been some trial closures which have gone particularly well, so we could put in some additional measures. The green-lane network is already in place, all it needs is some modification and it would be a very good way to link the entire Island in safety,’ he said.
‘I think that is one of the issues people have – yes there are green lanes and they are supposed to be 15mph, but, actually, how many cars that go down those pay attention to that?
‘So if we, on the back of this, could take the chance to put in place a one-way system, then that makes it a lot easier for people to take their families along those routes and feel confident about doing so.’
Following the implementation of the lockdown, Islanders have been urged to find alternatives to public transport to minimise the risk of spreading Covid-19. Similar guidance is in place in cities across the world.
Mr Wilkes said this was even more of a reason for the government to improve Jersey’s cycle infrastructure.
‘We see it as the perfect mode of transport to be able to get out. If you could get everyone on a bike rather than on the buses, then that works perfectly with the way the government wants everyone to [socially] distance going into the future,’ he said.
