In response to Felicity Chapple’s letter in The Voice last week.
The new path down the side of the Coronation Channel is an imaginative piece of work by Lincolnshire County Council.
We at PEDALS asked for a cycle lane on the west side of Camelgate so that people could approach Springfields more safely on bicycles, and this path is the alternative that was offered.
It looks promising – anything that can be done to separate cycle routes from those used by cars has a chance of encouraging people to exercise a choice of mode of transport.
There are too many cars on the roads, and a major reason given for not cycling is safety. It is not that the road jumps up and threatens cyclists! It is the cars – other people’s cars – that make people afraid.
When they see that a safer alternative is offered, as with the new path, they may well use it.
I would never have dreamed of driving through the Essex countryside, but hey they built the M25, and I have used it on my way to Dover.
I hope people will see the point of providing safer routes for cyclists.
Of course there are other ways of getting around without a car.
Ms Chapple mentions the buses. Our bus services have improved greatly, and I hope she has used them; I walk or take the bus several times a week to get into town, so I rarely have to worry about finding a parking space.
It is simply amazing to see how many buses now serve the Johnson Hospital and Springfields, as well as several locations in Spalding town centre.
The timetables on the bus stops are frequently updated by the county council; I have made a number of constructive suggestions for improvements, and I have been delighted to see these suggestions implemented.
I just wish more people would make use of our bus services – one day someone will say ‘use it or lose it’, and there are folk who have no alternative, so that would be a shame.
Nothing is perfect in this world, but if Ms Chapple would like to meet up with me and discuss ways of improving the buses, I would be happy to help if I can.
David Jones
Spalding
