Provide the paths to reduce use of cars

From Len Vautier.

SO MUCH has been written by the JEP, and spoken about on the radio, of the need for adults and children to cycle and walk but nothing is said about supplying cycling/pedestrian paths for safety from motor vehicles, which is the fear of most people, so I write again to urge action, but not by the present ministers who have done nothing over a period of at least eight years.

The people chosen to deal with this project have failed. The Health Minister once a year says ‘obesity and diabetes are on the increase in adults and children and is costing over £4 million a year.’ And that is it.

The Planning and Environment Minister, once a year, thinks he should do something so he spoke and arranged for a ‘children to walk to school for one day.’ And that is it.

The Education, Sport and Leisure Minister mentions, once a year, the importance of sport in order to be fit. And that is it.

Not every child actually likes sport but from my experience as a father and grandfather all children want to cycle.

The Transport and Technical Services Minister once a year says ‘we need to get people out of their cars’ or ‘we need more car parks.’ These statements appear to contradict each other and in my opinion what we actually need is less car parking and more cycle parking.

Deputy Labey, we don’t hear of now. Has she given up? She tried hard for years and if she has given up then I do not blame her. I understood the Army volunteered their services and were turned down. I am sure the unemployed would help.

Whoever planned the very short cycle track at Gorey/Grouville has no idea of what is required, as the track is much too wide with an unnecessary grass verge. The other day as I cycled this route a big lorry was parked on the track and still left me enough room to cycle past easily.

It has a useless gravel base which is hard work to cycle on, whereas it should be a tarmaced surface like the one on Victoria Avenue, which is well used. I would guarantee that if you dug up that route and gravelled it people would stop using it and ride along the side of it on the concrete parts.

Elite cyclists quite rightly cycle on the road, they are travelling at 30-35+ mph and the only people who seem to be annoyed are the drivers wanting to overtake in order to travel at 50-60+ mph. It is therefore a fact that the cyclists are stopping those people from breaking the law.

There must be people with the know-how and courage who can come forward and fight for this important project. I hear you say: ‘What about the writer of this letter?’ I am a very experienced ordinary cyclist and would willingly help with my ideas if they were to let me, but I am much too long in the tooth to take up such an important role.

All that is needed is a route from all the northern parishes into St Helier. It can be done. Take away the pavements either side of the road where practical and make a track on one side of the road only and mark it with a thick white line. There would now be three lines, one to separate cars as is now and a narrow path for cycles and pedestrians to use as is the case with parts of the cycle/walking route from St Helier to St Aubin. I have seen this done in small towns and cities around the world and it works.