Will plans put cyclists at risk?

Cyclists in Norwich claim to have unearthed evidence their safety will be put at greater risk should lorries be able to use a bus lane.

Transport bosses agreed last month to allow some HGVs use the joint bus and cycle lane on Newmarket Road as part of a six-month trial.

The experiment is part of a tie up between Norfolk County Council and Foulger Transport based at Snetterton in which companies who would normally deliver direct into the city drop their goods off 20 miles away and they are brought here all in one truck.

To try and help the scheme run quicker it was agreed the lorries could use the bus lanes on the popular route into the city.

However, the proposal has come in for criticism and now Norwich Cycling Campaign has produced its own study explaining why they feel the proposals must be dropped before the trial begins.

Richard Bearman, chairman of the group, said: “The proposals can give very little advantage to the operators, yet puts cyclists' lives and well being at risk and will deter cyclists from using the Newmarket Road bus lane. This reckless decision must be overturned before the project goes any further.”

The group claims lorries will be sharing a 3m wide bus lane but that current official guidance states a road should be at least 4.6m wide for HGVs to pass cyclists safely.

Also, it claims that in major cities and towns HGVs cause more than 50pc of cyclist fatalities while representing just 5pc of the vehicle count and nine of the 17 cyclists killed in London last year were hit by trucks.

Earlier this month Liberal Democrat councillor, Judith Lubbock, launched a “Say No to HGVs in Bus/ Cycle lanes” petition.

She said today: “I'm delighted that Norwich Cycling Campaign is behind the campaign to get the decision reversed and, although most people's gut reaction is that to put HGVs near cyclists is wrong, it is helpful to have these interesting statistics.”

The trial, which is due to start next month, will see Foulger lorries use the lane on Newmarket Road and then follow a route through Castle Meadow and Red Lion Street during the morning and evening peak periods.

The scheme is part of a Civitas project to help cities become cleaner and more sustainable.

Transport bosses have maintained that just a handful of lorries would be using the lane a day, they will be about the same size as buses and will be limited to 30mph.

Adrian Gunson, cabinet member for planning and transportation at Norfolk County Council, said: “Over the last five years in the whole Norfolk there have been 14 injury accidents involving cyclists and heavy goods vehicles, one fatal, three serious and ten slight.

“I would rather there were none, and taken overall, a successful Freight Consolidation Centre will reduce the risks in the city centre by reducing the number of heavy goods vehicles - surely this is something cyclists should welcome.”

Source - Norwich Evening News

To contact one of our specialist lawyers please call 0800 61 66 81, or use the contact details at the top left of this page.