From Sandra Buckley.
I WAS walking with friends after brunch last Sunday on the walkway adjacent to the wonderful cycle lane in the Bel Royal area.

Suddenly, screech of brakes and bang! A cyclist ran into me and I have tyre marks on my shoe to prove it. I was totally stunned and thought it was my fault. I thought I had stepped over the white line by mistake. But according to the many witnesses, I was still on the walking section side of the white line when she hit me – and so was she.

The cyclist did stop to see if I was okay and then went on her way – still pedalling away on the walking section. My back is still painful, so I feel that I should make her aware of the situation. The person who thought out this cycle lane idea should have thought a little more about how it would work. Having only a white line to divide the two areas can be very dangerous.

It is very bad idea for pedestrians who have impaired sight, and as pedal cycles are comparatively quiet, there is no warning. It does tempt some impatient cyclists onto the pedestrian section, and there are families out walking with children who get distracted when playing – the speed used by some of the cyclists is extremely dangerous and it can be more like a racetrack.

Cyclists are always banging on about vehicle drivers, so now this is the pedestrian’s turn to comment on cyclists. As with drivers, cyclists are not all bad, but when they are, they are dangerous.
I hope that with the elections coming up, some of the candidates will look into this situation.
Champs Clair,
Grande Route de St Jean,
St Helier.