Cycling Embassy of Great Britain appears at Bristol Sustainable Development and Transport Scrutiny Commission

The Cycling Embassy of Great Britain was invited to take part in a Bristol City Council's Sustainable Development and Transport Scrutiny Commission which was looking for recommendations to improve conditions for cyclists. Jim Davis, Chair of the Embassy, gave a well-received presentation yesterday along with City Council Project manager Ed Plowden, Dr Dave Horton, Dr Fiona Spotswood of University of West of England and representatives from Sustrans. Dr Adrian Davis was chair of the commission.

 This report from This is Bristol

RESEARCHERS have called for improvements to cycling conditions in Bristol, which they say could solve the problem of cyclists using pedestrian walkways.

Speaking at a council meeting yesterday, they argued that safer cycling networks in the city will help to discourage cyclists from mounting the pavements.

Judith Brown, chairwoman of the Bristol Older People's Forum, which has been campaigning against cyclists using pavements, attended the Sustainable Development and Transport Scrutiny Commission meeting. After the meeting she told the Post that the council should listen to what had been said and change its "inadequate" policy.

Five experts addressed the public meeting and backed an investment in infrastructure that would pull cyclists away from the pavements and avoid conflict.

Dr David Horton, a sociologist focusing on cycling, said that his research showed how potential cyclists were put off by "terrifying" road conditions. He said: "Too often words like 'petrified' and 'terrified' crop up in surveys when people are asked why they don't cycle around town.

"In urban Britain, at the moment, we are really struggling to provide for cyclists. There's a real mismatch between policy and practical work leading to improvements."

Jim Davis, chairman of the cycling embassy of Great Britain, said that planners should look to examples in Europe, where the provisions for cyclists make travelling by bike more "normal".

He added that the changes abroad had also led to less conflict between pedestrians and cyclists.

Leading the debate, Adrian Davis, a public health and transport consultant, said: "There's no doubt that the debate in the city is often very polarised. We want to move on from this by looking at the harsh realities."

Following the meeting, Mrs Brown told the Post: "I think the council has to think seriously about its inadequate policy for all.

"As Bristol is a cycling city, the council must think how it accommodates them properly.

"What countries have done in Europe looks promising and it's certainly worth thinking about how they can make life safer for everybody.

"I'm going to take this away to digest and tell my members."

Mark Bradshaw, a Labour councillor and chairman of the cross-party commission, said: "What we are trying to do is get a bit more recognition and understanding about the cycling debate.

"Whether you are a cyclist or an elderly person, your views are just as important and valuable.

"As a commission, we want to share this with the rest of the council and with their officers."