I've just been reviewing various emails from last year concerning the Western Esplanade track…
9th March 2010, Cllr Waite:
Thank you for taking the time to e-mail me and sincerely apologise for not having responded sooner.
I think that thee may be a misunderstanding, there is no intention to change the existing cycle path to the east, other than perhaps in the light of your comments, but my comments were in respect of the new path to go in to the west. This sector will be both lower than the promenade and higher than the carriage way and it will be fairly regularly defined by sating planting etc from the promenade. Also given the parking along this stretch I do not anticipate that speeding will be a problem, though clearly there will always be some that do speed.
A off road route does encourage more cyclists to use it and indeed numbers using the eastern section steadily grow.
Clearly if you wish to cycle on the road you may still do so as there is nothing to prevent this but some do feel happier off road especially those with children or those returning to cycling after a long period etc. The seafront route is part of the sustrans routes and will by March 2011 link from Chalkwell to the MOD, the final Southend sector west to Hadleigh is currently being considered and funding sourced.
The cycle track is considered wide enough for leisure cycling, those wishing to ‘push on’ can clearly use the carriageway and many do.
Crossing in front of cyclists is always going to be a problem just as a pedestrian may walk out in front of a motorist. It is the responsibility of the cyclist to anticipate such occurrences and to cycle accordingly. However I will look to see if we can improve signage to help deter this.
It is not possible to reduce car parking, this parking is vital for the seafront users and there is adequate parking elsewhere but not a surplus.
I many European cities there is far greater cycling culture, but this has grown over time and indeed cyclists are allowed to used the pavements in some instances with all the problems associated with that.
I will be passing your comments to officers who will consider your points and will respond directly to you.
I have visited Copenhagen and several other cycling cities and yes they are models that we aspire to but we are far further back than they and what we are doing is making the similar sort of start that they did some 30 years ago.
07 April 2010, Mehmet Mazahr:
"Once the scheme is formally opened, the parking regulations will be enforced. The yellow line waiting restrictions apply to the back of footway, therefore any vehicles parking on the cycle track or the promenade may receive a PCN."
"The approach that we have adopted in the design of this cycle route is similar in many ways to two-way and contra-flow cycle lanes in towns and cities across Europe (e.g. Copenhagen and Stockholm), where the only delineation between motorists and cyclists is a standard kerb. Some of these schemes are considered best practice and as a Cycling Demonstration Town this is what we also aspire to."