Group's new call for Portsmouth seafront cycle route
A cycling group has renewed calls for a safe seafront route after a cyclist was knocked off his bike.
Portsmouth Cycle Forum had planned a family bike ride on Southsea seafront to show there's support for a promenade cycle lane.
But Sunday's event was cancelled after a 25-year-old cyclist collided with a car reversing out of a parking space.
Members of the forum say the diagonal parking along the seafront makes it too dangerous to ride on the road.
Cycle forum member Hilary Reed said: 'We did not think it was safe, particularly with children.
'You have to ride right in the middle of the road staring at the reverse lights to see if they are on, with drivers behind you getting impatient.
'It is really quite scary, it is not a nice experience.'
Portsmouth City Council carried out a public consultation on a seafront cycle route in December last year.
More than 3,000 backed a plan for separate areas for cyclists and pedestrians along the promenade. Only 1,317 voted for three other options.
But despite the overwhelming results city council leader Gerald Vernon-Jackson said it would not be safe to have a cycle route on the promenade.
Members of the forum now want city leaders to create a safe cycle route on the road along the seafront.
Cllr Vernon-Jackson said he was keen to see a new route as soon as possible.
Traffic officials are working out how to create a route from the Hayling Island Ferry to the Gosport Ferry that won't put cyclists at risk from parked cars or traffic.
This may involve changing the way cars are parked along the seafront or introducing a one-way system.
RIDER THROWN INTO ROAD
The cyclist, from Southsea, was hit as he rode along Clarence Esplanade near the war memorial around 4.45pm on June 28.
He was thrown from his bike and flew over the car, which was driven by a 51-year-old man from Waterlooville.
His bike landed on the car's roof.
He was taken by ambulance to Queen Alexandra Hospital in Cosham with suspected head injuries, and was later transferred to Southampton General Hospital.
Police shut the road around the scene of the accident while they carried out enquiries.
Investigations into what happened are continuing.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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