All the major political parties are now supporting the move to get more people walking and cycling, now known as ‘Active Travel‘, to help reduce congestion, to reduce pollution, and to yield direct health benefits to residents.
The Residents’ Association welcomes the ambition of the Government in encouraging Active Travel and setting appropriate standards for safe walking and cycling.
Our vision is that:
- The major road routes through our neighbourhoods, i.e. Parvis Road, Old Woking Road, Sheerwater Road, Sopwith Drive, and Oyster Lane will have dedicated and separated protected cycle and walking paths on both sides of the road whenever space or major redevelopment permits.
- As soon as possible and as a step towards 1 above, all the above will have shared pedestrian and cycle paths or protected lanes (existing Old Woking Road lane eastbound to be protected) on both sides of the road to national standards and segregated where space allows.
- Safe cycling routes will be reinforced or introduced in Chertsey Road, Camphill Road, Station Road, Woodlands Avenue, Madeira Road, Pyrford Road, Oakcroft Road, and Coldharbour Road.
- Additional non-vehicular tunnels (or bridges) will be provided at West Byfleet Station, Camphill Road, and Oyster Lane to provide segregated safe access for cyclists and pedestrians across the railway independent of road traffic.
- Appropriate signal control crossings will be put in place to facilitate the continuity of active travel paths and safe cycling routes, particularly Sopwith Drive near Viscount Gardens, Parvis Road at Sopwith Drive, Sheerwater Road at Madeira Road, and Old Woking Road at Coldharbour Road.
- The National Trust will raise the standard of the Wey Navigation towpath to a similar standard to the Saturn Trail along the Basingstoke Canal at least though Runnymede, Elmbridge, and Woking Borough Council areas.
As a general principle:
- All active travellers, whether by cycle, scooter, mobility scooter, or on foot will be encouraged to show consideration to other users, including warning of approach from the rear.
- All new major road schemes in Surrey will make provision for dedicated separated pedestrian and cycle paths.
- All designated active travel paths will have direct crossings and marked priority over joining roads at junctions.
- All residential roads and roads adjacent to playgrounds and schools will have a 20mph speed limit.
- Residents will be supported in introducing road landscaping and traffic calming schemes on residential streets.
The Residents’ Association and three local Neighbourhood Forums, Byfleet, West Byfleet, and Pyrford, would ask all political parties to commit to the above at Local Authority level. We would ask all residents to support these moves and, in using these facilities, to observe the highway code and to show consideration to other users irrespective of their mode of travel.
The Residents’ Association recognises that some of our requests (particularly 1 and 4) may take many years to reach fruition but believes it is important that Local Authorities recognise the needs of the Community into the future and asks that the other requests be considered urgent priorities.
There are Bikeability cycle proficiency schemes operating in a number of local schools and they are also available for adults who want to improve their cycle proficiency.
For further information or comment, please email vrwb@the-residents.org
I think that the combined cycling and pedestrian footpaths along the Parvis Road are downright dangerous. They cannot be separated as the path is not wide enough. The pedestrian path has effectively been given to cyclists and probably, in a short time, electric scooters. Where do the elderly fit in here who cannot get out of the way quickly enough? Common sense has gone out the window in favour of the loudest voices which come from cyclists.