Lib Dems aim to put cycle lane debate back on “rational footing”

Liberal Democrat councillor John Pugh says that yesterday’s accident on Queens Road between a cyclist and a passenger bus “underlines the need to put the Southport Cycle Lane debate on a rational footing”.

A 15-year-old cyclist suffered minor injuries in the collision yesterday and was taken to hospital as a precaution.

The council have hit back, saying that the accident is “not in any way an opportunity to create or further a particular political narrative”

The Liberal Democrats will move a motion at council this evening calling for a moratorium on cycle lane plans.
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“What this [accident] tells us,” says Cllr Pugh,” is that the streets can be dangerous places for cyclists, but also that cycle lanes of the type installed are not a necessary nor a sufficient condition of avoiding accidents.

“You could argue that spending some of the money on driver and cyclist awareness schemes would more effectively promote the improvements in road safety we want to see.

“That’s why we want the Council to set up a proper working party to look at what the evidence of our eyes and the lived experience of road users tells us rather than press on with schemes for rationing road space that simply tick a box. We will be moving at the next Full Council this evening precisely that.

“Engaging brain and rationally assessing evidence and impacts is the way forward. There are those who want to take a ‘black and white’ polarised positions- totally for or totally against, but an incident like this should make ALL of us think. Accidents do not happen in a black and white world. ”

Cllr John Fairclough, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Locality Services, said: “Our thoughts and sympathies are with all those involved in this accident and we wish the cyclist a speedy recovery.

“This is not in any way an opportunity to create or further a particular political narrative and we will not be drawn into a debate as a result of what is an unfortunate accident.”