£1million seafront path plans given thumbs-up (From Braintree and Witham Times)

Unless they widen it considerably cyclists should be banned from cycling there. They are a bl**dy menace when trying to move boats and equipment to and from the Wilton. Mind you, they don't seem so keen after an argument with an outboard motor.

They ignore the FACT that cycling is prohibited along the Cinder Path and argue when it is pointed out to them.

If I had the money I would build a boardwalk over the slope, fit some seats and have this fenced off for pedestrians ONLY whilst the bike riders would be permitted to cycle on the current concrete path alongside the railway lines.

This will be a most welcome addition to Sustrans Route 16… if it gets past the talking stage.

I am an experienced cyclist, been cycling on UK roads for over forty years, but I find using The Ridgeway and Cliff Gardens to get to Old Leigh quite daunting. Motor traffic does not give enough space when passing and I frequently get large trucks passing at speed just inches from my elbow.

Cyclists have always been banned from the path because of the narrowness of some its sections, although many riders flout the rules.

not this onethough, I'm often cycling in that area and have always respected the 'no cycling' notices.

If it goes ahead it would be a nice addition to cyclepaths in the area

Let's not get our hopes up. This £1million is only for consultancy and drawing up plans.

How the hell can it cost 1 million to design and build a cycle path?

Just lay a bit of tarmac down and paint some white lines, job done.

Sure there'll be some lovely young lads of Irish stock over at Dale farm who'll do it for a reasonable price!

The Cater Wood Creeper wrote:

Cyclists have always been banned from the path because of the narrowness of some its sections, although many riders flout the rules.

not this onethough, I'm often cycling in that area and have always respected the 'no cycling' notices.

If it goes ahead it would be a nice addition to cyclepaths in the area

I agree..its pretty ridiculous that you can cycle to Chalkwell but come to a sudden halt when you reach this path, I see no reason why it should be made a shared path as many others are now in Southend.

Lefty Cyclist Type wrote:
This will be a most welcome addition to Sustrans Route 16… if it gets past the talking stage. I am an experienced cyclist, been cycling on UK roads for over forty years, but I find using The Ridgeway and Cliff Gardens to get to Old Leigh quite daunting. Motor traffic does not give enough space when passing and I frequently get large trucks passing at speed just inches from my elbow.

i agree, im now 75 years old and have been riding a tandem with my m8 bob, he has short legs , so i feel i do all the cycling !
i think the cycle path would be a good idea, Bob can watch the seagulls...

The only improvement the Cinder Path needs is tyre shredders.

Another shared space. What have the cyclists got that pedestrians have not. A bike but no courtesy.

jolllyboy wrote:
Another shared space. What have the cyclists got that pedestrians have not. A bike but no courtesy.

mirroring the attitude of pedestrians who walk several abreast along seperate and clearly marked cycle tracks when there's a perfectly good footpath adjacent to it and who hurl foul abuse and threaten violence if a cyclist makes any comment, perhaps....

Except that they have no bike and no courtesy.

The Cater Wood Creeper wrote:

jolllyboy wrote:
Another shared space. What have the cyclists got that pedestrians have not. A bike but no courtesy.

mirroring the attitude of pedestrians who walk several abreast along seperate and clearly marked cycle tracks when there's a perfectly good footpath adjacent to it and who hurl foul abuse and threaten violence if a cyclist makes any comment, perhaps....

Except that they have no bike and no courtesy.

Not to mention all the drivers who park in cycle lanes and hurl abuse when challenged on their illegal parking. I counted thirty in the cycle lane at the weekend.

Why on earth pander to cyclists.
Petrol prices are plummeting,electric cars are widely available .
SBC has already installed 'electric cars only' parking bays in Southend with charging pods adjacent..this is the future.

MOVE ON FOR GOD'S SAKE!!!!!!!!!

v.randy wrote:
Why on earth pander to cyclists.
Petrol prices are plummeting,electric cars are widely available .
SBC has already installed 'electric cars only' parking bays in Southend with charging pods adjacent..this is the future.

MOVE ON FOR GOD'S SAKE!!!!!!!!!

Saddler's farm - £63 million
Cuckoo Corner £ 5 - 10 million
Victoria Gateway - £7 million
Progress Road - £5 million

… and you think it's CYCLISTS who are being pandered to?

1m for a path yet cutbacks elswhere !

"Cyclists have always been banned from the path because of the narrowness of some its sections, although many riders flout the rules."

Are you reading lefty or did you miss that bit. You will still defend the cyclist I bet, So truthfully I bet you have cycled on this part.

Amazing. Any article that mentions cycling, and the trolls come out from under their stones. So predictable. I walk; I cycle; I drive - all carefully, with respect for others...we are not all differnt breeds!

I have cycled along the path but do take care. It would be great if this dose go ahead.

southendshrimper wrote:
"Cyclists have always been banned from the path because of the narrowness of some its sections, although many riders flout the rules."

Are you reading lefty or did you miss that bit. You will still defend the cyclist I bet, So truthfully I bet you have cycled on this part.

Are YOU reading? I already said I use The Ridgeway and Cliff Gardens to get to Leigh.

Eric the Red wrote:
Amazing. Any article that mentions cycling, and the trolls come out from under their stones. So predictable. I walk; I cycle; I drive - all carefully, with respect for others...we are not all differnt breeds!

It's always the same on this website. I just assume the trolls are sad little inadequates who can no longer spout bigotry at other races or religions, so they vent on cyclists instead. I bet in their tiny little minds they stereotype cyclists as looking like this:

http://bit.ly/LvhPhN


When in actual fact this is a cyclist:

http://bit.ly/LNCj88


and this is a cyclist:

http://bit.ly/N8IiUY


and this is a cyclist:

http://bit.ly/MTUY18


and all these are cyclists:

http://bit.ly/OjKBW6

if Southend council ever researched the actual cost of things like tarmac, hardcore, sand, cement, plant and labour they may discover £900,000 worth of savings..

Sorry,riding around Southend (mostly on the pavement) in tight fitting ,brightly coloured latex is just not acceptable ,we're in the 21st century not the 1980's.

Lets ban people with dogs that allow their liitle pooches to **** along the footpath and do not pick it up.

Lefty Cyclist Type wrote:

Eric the Red wrote:
Amazing. Any article that mentions cycling, and the trolls come out from under their stones. So predictable. I walk; I cycle; I drive - all carefully, with respect for others...we are not all differnt breeds!

It's always the same on this website. I just assume the trolls are sad little inadequates who can no longer spout bigotry at other races or religions, so they vent on cyclists instead. I bet in their tiny little minds they stereotype cyclists as looking like this:

http://bit.ly/LvhPhN



When in actual fact this is a cyclist:

http://bit.ly/LNCj88



and this is a cyclist:

http://bit.ly/N8IiUY



and this is a cyclist:

http://bit.ly/MTUY18



and all these are cyclists:

http://bit.ly/OjKBW6

So trolls are those that don't agree with the great Lefty.

reptile wrote:

Lefty Cyclist Type wrote:

Eric the Red wrote:
Amazing. Any article that mentions cycling, and the trolls come out from under their stones. So predictable. I walk; I cycle; I drive - all carefully, with respect for others...we are not all differnt breeds!

It's always the same on this website. I just assume the trolls are sad little inadequates who can no longer spout bigotry at other races or religions, so they vent on cyclists instead. I bet in their tiny little minds they stereotype cyclists as looking like this:

http://bit.ly/LvhPhN




When in actual fact this is a cyclist:

http://bit.ly/LNCj88




and this is a cyclist:

http://bit.ly/N8IiUY




and this is a cyclist:

http://bit.ly/MTUY18




and all these are cyclists:

http://bit.ly/OjKBW6

So trolls are those that don't agree with the great Lefty.

I would be careful clicking the links as my rather expensive firewall flag up a security risk.

Max Impact wrote:

reptile wrote:

Lefty Cyclist Type wrote:

Eric the Red wrote:
Amazing. Any article that mentions cycling, and the trolls come out from under their stones. So predictable. I walk; I cycle; I drive - all carefully, with respect for others...we are not all differnt breeds!

It's always the same on this website. I just assume the trolls are sad little inadequates who can no longer spout bigotry at other races or religions, so they vent on cyclists instead. I bet in their tiny little minds they stereotype cyclists as looking like this:

http://bit.ly/LvhPhN





When in actual fact this is a cyclist:

http://bit.ly/LNCj88





and this is a cyclist:

http://bit.ly/N8IiUY





and this is a cyclist:

http://bit.ly/MTUY18





and all these are cyclists:

http://bit.ly/OjKBW6

So trolls are those that don't agree with the great Lefty.

I would be careful clicking the links as my rather expensive firewall flag up a security risk.

Liar.

A very welcome addition to the seafront cycle route if it ever comes to fruition.
I always find it very strange that shared space between pedestrians and cyclists appear to work very well in all European countries I have been to i.e Italy , France , Belgium and Spain etc but here they are the cause of constant aggro!!

It sure would be a great thing to have the cycle path extended. The current system just doesn't work, too narrow, too many children and most of us cyclists do NOT like running into people.

All over Europe cyclepath are far more abundant and it is high time that we did something to encourage more people to 'get on their bike' and I mean that in more then one way.

UK Fan wrote:
It sure would be a great thing to have the cycle path extended. The current system just doesn't work, too narrow, too many children and most of us cyclists do NOT like running into people.

All over Europe cyclepath are far more abundant and it is high time that we did something to encourage more people to 'get on their bike' and I mean that in more then one way.

Quite agree we need to be encouraging people to cycle by improving facilities .

@Eastwood Biker:
Unfortunately, this is easier said then done. I am German, well was, i now have British citizenship, but Germany had one great advantage which may sound strange, but losing the war and being bombed to shreds in WW2 was actually rather beneficial for the country. When towns and cities were rebuilt people just didn't have any money, besides in '45, who owned a car privately anyway, so almost every street there comes with its own cyclepath, both directions.

In Britain, this was never a problem at the time. People tried to get on with each other and largely continued to try and do so until the early 80s when prosperity hit at least most parts of the nation. That's when things went sour. Car owners against cyclists, cyclists against pedestrians, god knows where the pedestrians took their frustration.

As I keep saying. Germany lost the war but won the peace. Something that the current German government is busy destroying at the moment, raising more then just a little resentment by their outrageous behaviour. Comments like 'German is spoken in Europe' don't go down too well with a lot of people, including me and my wife. But that's a completely different kettle of fish and doesn't really belong here.

Eastwood Biker wrote:

UK Fan wrote:
It sure would be a great thing to have the cycle path extended. The current system just doesn't work, too narrow, too many children and most of us cyclists do NOT like running into people.

All over Europe cyclepath are far more abundant and it is high time that we did something to encourage more people to 'get on their bike' and I mean that in more then one way.

Quite agree we need to be encouraging people to cycle by improving facilities .

It would also help to change the attitudes of so many of the UK's drivers.
A programme of education into how roads are funded would be a start. Add to that six months compulsory bicycle usage incorporated into driver education to instil a better understanding of what it is like to be a vulnerable road user.

Make killing while driving a criminal offence with an automatic custodial sentence.

Make the drink drive limit zero so there is no longer any doubt about how many drinks a person can consume before being over the limit, with a ten year ban and a month in prison as the mandatory sentence for drink and drug driving.

Harsher penalties for speeding, automatic six points and minimum fine of £1000.

Better policing of the roads. Police actually dishing out fines to transgressors, including adult pavement cyclists and red light jumpers.

Make the roads safer, and everything else follows.