Petition to support more cycle routes
Tuesday 3 September 2024
A petition has been posted to support the development of effective and safe cycling options in our area.
Organisers consider that many more people would like to cycle more but feel that both infrastructure and road safety concerns prevent them.
After the Tour de France put our area firmly on the bike map, Calderdale has become a popular area for leisure cycling, from road riders to mountain biking. Despite this, safe routes on local roads are few.
Communities across our borough are connected by Victorian roads which are small and become dominated by cars, making them feel unsafe for everyone else.
The HebWeb contacted Cllr Scott Patient who is Calderdale Council cabinet member for Climate, Housing and Active Travel. He told the HebWeb, "As part of our ambitious climate plans, transportation is a key area of focus. Encouraging active travel, public transport use and walking and cycling has to be our priority.
"Although bus franchising, the rail providers coming back under public control and mass transit are welcome moves, putting in the infrastructure to allow the most vulnerable road users to move about our borough, whilst building good habits that are better for health, air quality and the environment are crucial too."
The Petition asks the for measures to enable more people to employ active travel - bicycle, scooter, or on foot - and support the Calderdale Council to develop miles more cycle routes on our main highways, cycle routes which are safe, direct and put our most vulnerable road users first.
Creating safe routes, physically separated from motor traffic using barriers, bollards and planters, will mean that active travel can be an option for all residents including children, older people and those who are less confident on roads. Active travel has numerous health and wellbeing benefits, and it should be accessible for everyone.
Cycling and walking are ideal forms of transport for shorter journeys. By enabling more people to make those trips walking or wheeling, we will also create space for those who need to use cars for longer journeys.
You could also email the council and/or your local representatives. Some useful email contacts are:
- Transport portfolio, Sarah Courtney
- Active Travel lead, Scott Patient
- Corridor Improvement Project team, Calderdale Council"
This issue will also be discussed at the Ward Forum tomorrow evening (4 Sept) - 6.30pm at the Town Hall