I do not think Horsham actively promotes cycling, yet the town gets clogged up with cars and lorries.

There are several, but not lots, of roads with cycle lanes marked on them. I am sure the council puts them on the roads for political reasons and not for consideration to the cyclist, because they had financial help from the Government to put the white lines on the roads for cyclists to use.

If they had been serious about cycle routes then vehicles would not park along these routes without retribution. Many are the times I see parked vehicles on a cycle lane.

Some towns in England are allowing cyclists to ride up a one way street against the flow of traffic. There are ways that can be satisfactorily achieved without problems.

One could in the past do that up East Street – mind you, there were risks. Some inconsiderate car drivers would park on the south side of East Street and make the other traffic drive over the cycle lane, terrorising the cyclist as they would not give way – even though the cyclists had right of way.

I see in the press that there are 12 towns that have been selected to encourage more cyclists onto the road. Horsham was not one of them.

I don't suppose they even tried, as HDC do not enable Horsham to be a cyclist friendly town. There are no joined up cycle routes around town, so none of it is well thought out at all.

People used to be able to ride along East Street, but that is not on now. There was a clear notice recently saying 'Cycle Lane Suspended'.
It was more than suspended. It was blocked! Blocked by kerb stones having been concreted in on the red route.

Why don't the council mark a lane in the middle of West Street and allow cyclists to use that. Stop cars in East Street yes, but let bikes through.

Join the two together to enable cyclists to ride from one road to the other without getting off their vehicle, or is that too radical an idea?

Add in Bishopric to it, as well. Why don't they join up the other routes into Horsham like spokes of a wheel and make it clear that it is for cyclist to use and the town centre is the hub of the community?
We want joined up cycle routes.

As the picture shows, East Street has gone to the dogs. It is now so convenient for the late night gentlemen who have the occasional alcoholic drink to discard their bottles against the shop windows from a relaxed position. What will it finish up looking like?

DAVID FRENCH
Worthing Road Southwater