Get cyclists off town Esplanade

10:14am Thursday 12th July 2012 in Your letters

Walking along the Esplan-ade from Weymouth to Preston, I moved to my left to point something out to my husband and was nearly knocked over by a cyclist who had come up silently behind us at great speed.

This idiot was not a young lout but an elderly man. I feel very strongly that the Esplanade should be for walkers only and not a “shared path” with cyclists. It is dangerous and it does not work.

The Esplanade was built for people to walk along safely. There is a cycle path on the other side of the road especially for cyclists built at great expense, but I understand that they say they want to enjoy the view from the Esplanade.

Oh dear.

Then they should park their bikes and walk, as motorists have to do. Enjoying the view from a bike sounds very dangerous to me. Imagine if motorists did this when driving along a scenic route.

When in charge of a vehicle of any sort, eyes and concentration should be on the road.

I also think that cyclists should pay a road tax like other road users.

They use the roads; why should they have free use of them?

Incidently, according to my Concise English Dictionary, the word “Esplanade” means: “A long open level stretch of ground for walking along.”

Muriel Aird, Enkworth Road, Preston, Weymouth

Comments(18)

golden_eagle says...
11:00am Thu 12 Jul 12

I'm both a cyclist, a car driver and a pedestrian. I agree that people shouldn't be cycling on the Esplanade.

However to address your point:

"I also think that cyclists should pay a road tax like other road users. They use the roads; why should they have free use of them ?".

1. There is no such thing as road tax. There is Vehicle and Excise Duty, which is a tax on your vehicle based on its emissions, and obviously bicycles do not produce any emissions (even if their riders do occasionally !).

2. Maintenance of the roads is paid from general taxation, so most cyclists will be contributing already.

3. Many cyclists such as myself already pay tax on their car. However I choose to leave it at home. Surely fewer cars on the road is a good thing ??

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satisfecho says...
12:51pm Thu 12 Jul 12

I strongly believe that the road is for car and cyclists, not for jay walker who think its ok to stop the traffic because they are too **** lazy to walk 50 yards to a pedestrian crossing.

Lock em all up I say!

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chesilboy says...
1:50pm Thu 12 Jul 12

"I moved to my left to point something out to my husband"

Translated =

I stepped in front of a bike on a shared cycle path without looking.

"This idiot was not a young lout but an elderly man."

Translated =

Despite not breaking any laws the cyclist is an "idiot". He wasn't young but young people are "louts" anyway.

Muriel, your letter is bigoted and generally abusive. No surprise it was published.

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IDONTKNOWIFITISTRRUE says...
2:00pm Thu 12 Jul 12

chesilboy
the Esplanade is not a 'shared cycle path'.

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chesilboy says...
2:09pm Thu 12 Jul 12

IDONTKNOWIFITISTRRUE wrote:
chesilboy the Esplanade is not a 'shared cycle path'.
Read it again. The writer is presumably talking about the Preston Beach stretch of the 'Esplanade'.

She refers to the cycle path on the other side of the road "especially for cyclists". (Wrong - another shared path.)

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Bake4life says...
3:51pm Thu 12 Jul 12

i read this in the paper today and thought that it was outrageous to say that cyclists should pay road tax! road tax is for cars based on their emissions. shouldnt we be promoting cycling as it is a greener way to travel. im 18 years old and im offended that she described 'this idiot was not a young lout but an elderly man' you are clearly trying to say all young people are louts. this 'Muriel Aird' is obviously an old stuck up hag who thinks its OK to generalise all youngsters 'louts'. for goodness sake next time look where your going and stop making assumptions about young people. there are other people on this planet as well you know

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wessex-andy says...
4:05pm Thu 12 Jul 12

Here we go again, chucking insults at each other. Don't you just love the reaction of the cyclists and pedestrians when one criticises the other?

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I am not a grockle says...
5:02pm Thu 12 Jul 12

chesilboy wrote:
"I moved to my left to point something out to my husband" Translated = I stepped in front of a bike on a shared cycle path without looking. "This idiot was not a young lout but an elderly man." Translated = Despite not breaking any laws the cyclist is an "idiot". He wasn't young but young people are "louts" anyway. Muriel, your letter is bigoted and generally abusive. No surprise it was published.
Right on the money chesilboy!

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IDONTKNOWIFITISTRRUE says...
8:31pm Thu 12 Jul 12

chesilboy
Sorry - what is it like to be right (a lot of the time). I must re-read the article (:o))

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oldbrock says...
9:20pm Thu 12 Jul 12

IDONTKNOWIFITISTRRUE wrote:
chesilboy
the Esplanade is not a 'shared cycle path'.
perhaps it would be better if it was? signposted and marked, it certainly is wider than most shared pathways, nice and flat, perfect for responsible cycling

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Merrittpr says...
10:54am Sat 14 Jul 12

I can't believe this old chestnut has come back again so soon. The esplanade is shared for cyclists and pedestrians on this stretch. I suggest Muriel approaches the council and asks them to sort the shared access out i.e. provide clear lane markings for either use. Can't believe the young lout comment either, really, in this day and age!?

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MandiO says...
10:33pm Sat 14 Jul 12

Last Sunday morning was actually sunny! So, we set off to Weymouth with two very excited children to see the sea and to ride their bikes along the very wide pathway that stretches from Preston to the Pavillion, only to find that we could only cycle a third of the distance into the town, just to the paddling pool/sandpit. Perhaps the pathway could be marked properly in view of health & safety but perhaps lots of consideration should be taken to mark the pathway all the way into the town to allow cyclist of any age to travel safely into the town in the most environmentally friendly way!

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Wykeite says...
1:20pm Sun 15 Jul 12

Remember Muriel that the body is a vehicle for the soul so, 'When in charge of a vehicle of any sort, eyes and concentration should be on the road.' If go wandering across a cycle path you're going to get knocked. You wouldn't do it on a main road so why do it on a cycle path?

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Genghis says...
9:46pm Sun 15 Jul 12

MandiO wrote:
Last Sunday morning was actually sunny! So, we set off to Weymouth with two very excited children to see the sea and to ride their bikes along the very wide pathway that stretches from Preston to the Pavillion, only to find that we could only cycle a third of the distance into the town, just to the paddling pool/sandpit. Perhaps the pathway could be marked properly in view of health & safety but perhaps lots of consideration should be taken to mark the pathway all the way into the town to allow cyclist of any age to travel safely into the town in the most environmentally friendly way!
The most environmentally friendly way - walking.

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I'mavoter says...
2:27am Wed 18 Jul 12

Here we go again ! Let's give cyclists another bashing !
So it's alright for the electric scooter brigade to wizz along the esplanade (sometimes quite recklessly), and it's ok for youths to scoot along there on their skateboards and roller skates yes ?
Yet another old biddy that selfishly wants the whole dam place to herself !
this very morning, I was walking along the pathway from Westham Bridge, through the underpass, up by Corscombe Close and into Abbotsbury Road, without exageration, I saw at least 10-12 adults walking in the 'cycle lane' section of this path, one of whiuch tuttered and muttered as a cyclist rang his bell in an effort to get past ! Did I immediately write to the Echo ? Were questions raised in 'The House' ? Should I have called the Pedestrian Police ? Live and let live for goodness sake. We live in a lovely place, let's all try and be a bit more courteous and considerate so that all may enjoy it, whether we walk, cycle, hop skip or jump. Pedestrians, don't walk in the cycle lane, or the middle of the road, simples !

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I'mavoter says...
2:33am Wed 18 Jul 12

Genghis, why is walking more enviromentally friendly than cycling ?

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Genghis says...
3:38pm Fri 20 Jul 12

I'mavoter wrote:
Genghis, why is walking more enviromentally friendly than cycling ?
Simple, bikes may rely on less raw materials and manufacturing processes that create toxic waste, pollution and environmental damage than cars do, but definitely a lot more than a pair of good boots.

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portland rebel says...
8:15pm Tue 24 Jul 12

every other seaside resort has a cycle path on their espilade so why is it different here.

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