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ROW RAGES OVER PLAN TO BAN BIKE RIDING ALONG RIVERFRONT

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25 February 2008

A row is raging on Bankside over council plans to ban cycling on one of the most picturesque parts of Southwark's world famous riverfront.

The fight - which is between a coalition of pro-cycling groups on one side and a number of Southwark councillors and officers on the other - has been ongoing since just before Christmas and after six hours of meetings it now appears an end might be in sight.

The argument was triggered by the addition of a 'new' rule into the ranks of Southwark byelaws prohibiting cycling on the stretch of riverfront known as 'Bank End', which stretches from The Anchor Tap pub across to the Southwark/Lambeth border at Blackfriars Bridge. It includes many of Southwark's most famous landmarks such as Shakespeare's Globe, the Tate Modern and the Millennium Bridge.

It is claimed by the council that cycling has always been banned there, a contention protested by the cycling coalition - which includes local groups Southwark Cyclists and Southwark Living Streets, alongside national transport charity Sustrans and the London Cycling Campaign.

In an attempt to solidify the rule she believes to be pre-existing and to protect pedestrians within her ward, Bankside councillor Adele Morris successfully applied for a byelaw to be created last summer, banning cycling on the path.

It is alleged that the byelaw - just one of many proposed by the council in a wide ranging package proposed last year - was then not 'flagged' at a number of presentations given by council officers across the borough.

As such, Southwark Cyclists claimed that it was missed when the group submitted their official response to the proposals and was only spotted when their leader - high profile cycling campaigner Barry Mason - was looking through the byelaws shortly before Christmas.

Upon phoning a council officer to speak about the byelaw, Mr. Mason alleges the officer replied that he had been "expecting" his call, leading the campaigner to believe the council had deliberately pulled the wool over his eyes, due to the protests they knew the new rule would cause.

Following four rapidly submitted objections to the law, the Department for Communities and Local Government decided against rubber stamping the council's decision, leaving all the new byelaws effectively in limbo until the negotiations between the council and the cyclists have reached a conclusion.

During the negotiations, the council has been standing its ground and pushing for a full ban, whilst the cyclists are calling for the concept of 'shared use' to be applied to Bank End. Shared use is the rule soon be imposed within the borough's parks, allowing for pedestrians and cyclists considerately to share all pathways.

Following a meeting on Friday morning (February 15), cyclists have now agreed to conduct their own surveys of cyclist numbers and behaviour on the river path - with negotiations due to restart next month.

Both parties spoke to the 'News' this week to outline their case. Mr. Mason said: "We heard about this new law by coincidence. The council really didn't consult properly on this law - not even their internal cycling officer knew about it!

"I can't believe how old fashioned and neanderthal this is! I really think the council made a huge mistake here and will hopefully just quietly drop this bye law. There's no need for this ban."

Cllr Morris responded: "The basic problem is that, although it has been a contentious issue in the area for a number of years and cycling hasn't been allowed there anyway, the cyclists are making a big fuss about it.

"We have now had six hours of negotiations with the cyclists and they said they would like to prove that 'shared use' of the path can be done responsibly through education.

"Pending further discussion and consultation the council is willing to look at that as a way forward. That is because we're not anti-cycling.

"The only reason this restriction was ever suggested was because of the safety of pedestrians - which is our paramount concern."

A council spokesperson added: "Cycling has been prohibited in most of Southwark's parks, public walks and open spaces, including Bankside, for more than a decade.

"However, we are very keen to promote cycling in the borough, so for the first time in eleven years our new byelaws will allow cycling in all parks and open spaces.

"During our consultation process about the new byelaws last year, local residents and organisations along Bankside raised a number of safety concerns about cycling on the river walk, which is often very crowded, particularly in the summer months.

"We are now working with Southwark Cyclists and other organisations to explore options to resolve this issue." The spokesperson did not address the issue with regards to consultation on the planned new laws.

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