Mixed reaction over Horsham’s green cycle zones

The new bright green cycle zones painted on roads in Horsham have been met with mixed reaction.

The ‘Advance Cycle Stop Lines’ have appeared around Albion Way over the past week.

Funding has come from a pool of £2.46million as part of the Local Sustainable Transport Fund (LSTF) programme which West Sussex County Council successfully bid for from the Department of Transport in 2012.

Peter Hillman, of Primrose Copse, wrote to the County Times: “Could someone explain the purpose in painting the road green at the Parkway – Albion Way crossroads?

“I cross this junction virtually every day and there is no discernable problem which would warrant this lurid artwork.

“If the highways department has money available for this pointless exercise can I suggest it is transferred to the ‘repairing potholes’ fund.”

Meanwhile others welcome the new zones.

On Twitter Horsham-based cycling enthusiast Cliver Walker said: “It’s great to see some improvements in cycling infrastructure. I really like the prominence of the green colour. More please!”

The county council said the new zones ‘will improve the efficiency for moving traffic through the town and will reduce congestion and pollution’.

It highlights the advantages as: allowing cyclists to bypass queuing traffic to get to the front (via the lead-in lane); placing cyclists in a more visible location ahead of traffic, rather than at a potential blind spot to the left of traffic; allowing cyclists to wait in an area relatively free from exhaust fumes; and making it easier for right-hand turning cyclists to position themselves in the best location.

The new bright green cycle zones painted on roads in Horsham have been met with mixed reaction.

The ‘Advance Cycle Stop Lines’ have appeared around Albion Way over the past week.

Funding has come from a pool of £2.46million as part of the Local Sustainable Transport Fund (LSTF) programme which West Sussex County Council successfully bid for from the Department of Transport in 2012.

Peter Hillman, of Primrose Copse, wrote to the County Times: “Could someone explain the purpose in painting the road green at the Parkway – Albion Way crossroads?

“I cross this junction virtually every day and there is no discernable problem which would warrant this lurid artwork.

“If the highways department has money available for this pointless exercise can I suggest it is transferred to the ‘repairing potholes’ fund.”

Meanwhile others welcome the new zones.

On Twitter Horsham-based cycling enthusiast Cliver Walker said: “It’s great to see some improvements in cycling infrastructure. I really like the prominence of the green colour. More please!”

The county council said the new zones ‘will improve the efficiency for moving traffic through the town and will reduce congestion and pollution’.

It highlights the advantages as: allowing cyclists to bypass queuing traffic to get to the front (via the lead-in lane); placing cyclists in a more visible location ahead of traffic, rather than at a potential blind spot to the left of traffic; allowing cyclists to wait in an area relatively free from exhaust fumes; and making it easier for right-hand turning cyclists to position themselves in the best location.

Read your letters on the subject in this week’s County Times.