People in Reading have blasted a council proposal to make cycle lanes in Sidmouth Street permanent.
Reading Borough Council closed the northbound lane of Sidmouth Street to create a route for cyclists as part of active travel measures using funding from the Government in 2020.
Now, the council wants to make the cycle lane permanent, and has launched a consultation to gather public opinion.
Residents have hit out at the suggestion, with the apparent consensus among residents being that barely any cyclists use it.
READ MORE: Fresh call to remove 'white elephant' and 'senseless' cycle lane in Reading street
The proposal was blasted by people who were responding to the council’s post announcing the consultation on Facebook.
Rebecca Newman said: “I’ve never seen a cyclist use this whilst driving through ever.”
Agreeing, James Russell said: “Granted I don’t sit there and watch it, but I’ve been past many times and not once seen a cyclist use it.”
Nancy Carter said: “As a cyclist I have no idea how to actually reach this path without getting squished by traffic.
“Either get rid of it or link safely to other parts of the cycle network.”
Some people expressed frustration at how little the cycle lanes are used.
Mikey Russell said: “I’ve seen cyclists literally on the road when there’s a perfectly usable cycle path next to it. It’s infuriating.”
Although Kathy McAleer also said she’s never seen cyclists use the cycle lane, she was sympathetic to efforts to encourage active travel.
She said: “It takes me 6-7 minutes to walk up this road and I never see any cyclists. I am sure there are a few but what I do have to walk past is queues and queues of traffic belching fumes at me.
“The same council has pledged to work to Net Zero Carbon by 2030!”
When the council monitored usage of the cycle lane in 2021, it found that 76 cyclists used it in a 12 hour period.
The council has argued that the Sidmouth Street cycle lane connects to the shared foot and cycle pavement in London Road, and lanes shared with buses and taxis in Wokingham Road.
Furthermore, the council also stated that the Sidmouth Street cycle lane would be linked to a permanent active travel route in Shinfield Road which will be built by later this year.
READ MORE: Reading driver slams 'senseless' cycle lane and raises fears over emergency service access
Andy Clarke appeared sympathetic to making the cycle lane permanent.
He said: “To get increased cycle use you need a network. People sitting in cars belching toxic filth can’t wait to blame cyclists or authorities trying to encourage less selfish, healthy and more efficient modes.
“All of our towns and cities are blighted by excessive car use and rat running in minor streets to avoid the jams they cause.
“Anyone who claims you get free running, non-polluting traffic by subjecting back roads to through traffic is talking nonsense; cars are just such a waste of space.”
You can take part in the consultation online here.
The deadline to respond ends on August 10.
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