Local Lib Dem Cllr Bob Hare is calling for improvements to cycle lanesaround Haringey. At Thursday’s Muswell Hill and Highgate Area Assembly, Haringey Council put forward their plans for cycle lane provision.

Cllr Hare welcomedthe attention being given to this subject and asked for further improvementsto be made to the plans.

The presentation on plans to improve and create cycle lanes started adetailed discussion with local residents, with many current problemshighlighted. These include cycle lanes which stop abruptly when they areneeded most – where roads become narrow and at junctions. One localresident, currently at university in Sheffield, explained that the councilthere had adopted a policy of pavement sharing between cyclists andpedestrians which had been extremely successful.

Cllr Hare, Lib Dem Environment Spokesperson and a keen cyclist, asked thatcycle ‘cut-throughs’ be provided at kerb build-outs. These build-outs areinstalled to improve pedestrian safety, but without cut-throughs they createserious dangers for cyclists who get squeezed between the build-out andpassing traffic.

“Haringey still has a long way to go before we will have a usable network ofroutes that might be used by, say, a twelve old,” said Cllr Hare.

“Nevertheless, there has been a useful discussion and a number of issues andconcerns affecting cyclists were raised with the Council, which I hope theywill take on board for their plans.

“I urge Haringey Council to install ‘cut-throughs’ for bikes at points wherekerbs have been built out to protect pedestrians,” Cllr Hare said.

“This will help improve cycle safety and convenience across the Borough andencourage more people towards environmentally friendly travel.”