By Beth Doherty
Twitter:@bethdmedia / @new_valleynews
Instagram: @bethdohertymedia / @newvalleynews
Salisbury residents and visitors have reacted to the new cycle lanes on Exeter Street and Brown Street ‘to help link Harnham and Salisbury District Hospital to the city centre’ as previously reported by New Valley News. Street parking on Exeter Street has been removed to create a cycleway on the street, maintaining two-way traffic. The cycle lanes have white markings on the road with reflective bollards that physically separate the lane from other traffic.
New Valley News spoke to local business owners and cyclists for their opinions on the new lanes.
Cyclist Rich Andrews cycles to and from the hospital daily to get to work, said: “I cycle from home to the hospital (work) and go via Laverstock, Southampton Road and Churchill Gardens. I saw the new cycle lanes on Exeter street the other day when taking a diversion through town. It appears they are only on one side of the road, but anything to improve safety for cyclists when in town is a good thing.”
Gary Taylor, company director at All The Sevens taxis in Salisbury, is concerned about increased traffic as a result of the bollards, said: “We fully understand the need to improve cycle lanes in Salisbury with the painted road markings. Unfortunately, placing the plastic bollards on these markings has narrowed what is already an overstretched road network in our medieval city. We believe this will only increase congestion within the city during busy times.”
Salisbury Reds director Paula Good was positive about the change, saying they had ‘no issues or complaints’.
Josh Hammond enjoys cycling locally to keep fit and commute to work. “More and more people are picking up cycling as a hobby or way of transport as a result of the pandemic, which is brilliant to see. However, it is worrying to see the amount who are cycling without the proper protection, such as a helmet. The new cycle lanes in the city centre add that extra level of protection so you can cycle in the knowledge that no stray car or bus will come too close and cause any nasty accidents.
“You will always get the occasional one or two who forget to check their mirrors so it’s good to have that physical barrier,” added Josh.
Local business owner, Andy Maul, from Maul’s Wine and Cheese Bar, thinks the new bollards look out of place in an historic city.
“I am very much in favour of the people friendly Salisbury movement and can understand the need to help promote a more carbon-neutral city, but the black and white bollards do look out of place in our wonderful historic city.
“Unlike London where these have been deployed and the flow of traffic is heavier, did we need to follow when applying our own cycle lanes? Do we think the traffic will be that heavy that, without these bollards, accidents to cyclists would be higher?”
Jason Regent from Regent Tailoring was concerned it may reduce footfall.
“I have mixed emotions. I love the idea of safe riding, but I am worried it will cause traffic jams, and traffic jams make people turn around,” said Jason.
Speaking to Wiltshire Council about the attractiveness of high-vis bollards in a medieval city, Bridget Wayman, Cabinet Member for Highways, said:
“The new cycle paths on Exeter Street and Brown Street are part of the Department for Transport’s (DfT) Emergency Active Travel Fund, and encourage people who would usually make short commuter trips to cycle instead. The paths make it easier and safer for cyclists to access shops, businesses, and places of work instead of driving or using buses that have less capacity because of social distancing requirements.
“In line with the design principles of DfT’s Cycle Infrastructure Design, cyclists must be physically separated and protected from motor vehicles, which is why we have installed bollards instead of utilising white road markings.
“This is a temporary scheme that will be in place for a minimum of six months, during which time we will monitor its use before making a decision on its future,” she added.