Cycle path plan hits a hitch

4:53pm Monday 1st December 2008

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Parking problems on a quiet lane need to be tackled before a cycle path is introduced, according to nearby residents.

Oxfordshire County Council has unveiled plans to introduce a cycle lane running along Rippington Drive in Marston, Oxford, down Croft Road and along Purcell Road.

The cycle route has been designed to link up with the existing cycle track which links the city centre and Marston across the University Parks.

Butd between the two cycle routes lies Ferry Lane – a private road whose owner has yet to be identified.

This means County Hall is powerless to enforce parking restrictions in the lane.

Residents are now calling for the county to adopt the land before the proposed work.

Sue Williams, 40, of Ferry Road, said: “The fact that the county council is installing a new cycle path here shows it is a busy route that is well used.

“But having all the cars parked along there makes it very dangerous.

It needs to be made safer for cyclists.

“All the cars make it so narrow, and if there are cars coming round the corner from Edgeway Road or Ferry Road it can be dangerous.

“The responsibility for the road has been shirked for too long and it is now up to the county council to take it over.”

Joyce Bouse, 69, of Edgeway Road agreed the parking situation was making it dangerous for cyclists.

She said: “It has to have double yellow lines, that would stop them (motorists parking) once and for all.”

Freda Goodchild, 74, of Ferry Road, said: “It’s very dangerous down there and something should be done to make it safer for cyclists.”

The work on the cycle lane is due to start next summer and is expected to cost between £160,000 and £180,000.

Liberal Democrat city and county councillor Mohammed Altaf-Khan said: “I think there is definitely a call for the county council to adopt Ferry Lane and enforce parking restrictions.

“It would make this route much safer for cyclists and provide a continuous route for cyclists across the city.”

County transport planner Aron Wisdom said: “Oxfordshire County Council has no active plans to adopt Ferry Lane, but the matter will be reviewed once the Ferry Road/Rippington Drive scheme is implemented.

“We have no record of any accidents occurring on Ferry Lane in the past five years, however, once the cycle link is open for public use we will continue to monitor the safety situation and react as appropriate.

"We will also continue to liaise with our road safety team to monitor accidents, not only on Ferry Lane but on the whole route, to make improvements for all users, if required, not just cyclists.”

ckearney@oxfordmail.co.uk