From Brian Frith.
IT is commendable that Transport Minister Mike Jackson is trying to get the public out of their cars and into alternative transport, but such an initiative is going to need a lot more than just words.

Bicycles are one of his main ideas, and we know from London and other major cities that this can be hugely beneficial.

Small islands and bikes are a natural combination. Cycling in London has soared recently and is now at its highest level in 17 years. Sustrans, the UK sustainable transport charity, has developed over 10,000 miles of cycle tracks and claims over one million journeys per day by people, many of whom could have been in a car.
The government has also introduced a Cycle to Work scheme which gives tax incentives to people who use bikes to commute.

However, I believe that there is one great stumbling block to progressing in Jersey, and that is a fear of traffic. And from experience, I’m afraid this is well
justified.

It is impossible to cycle for more than a few miles in Jersey and not be subject to reckless overtaking and outright aggression. The reaction to this, I’m sure, will be the predictable ‘all cyclists run red lights, ride on pavements and terrorise old ladies on footpaths’, as though this condones such aggression.

Cyclists will also be accused of holding up traffic by riding two-abreast, with little understanding that not only is this legal (check your Highway Code), but it is also a defensive mechanism. It creates a shorter overtake, and on certain roads makes motorists overtake properly, and not just squeeze by a single rider.

However, unless there is education for both cyclists and motorists and respect for everyone’s rights, with severe penalties for anyone recklessly endangering another’s life, then any cycling initiative will go nowhere.

I was in New Zealand earlier in the year and there are prominent signs there that urge motorists to ‘share the road’ and not ‘burst the cyclist’s bubble’ (that is, don’t pass too closely).

Majorca has over 450,000 tourist cyclists a year because of its tolerant attitude and great cyclist path network. Holland has a presumption of guilt upon the motorist where there is a car/cycle accident, and the UK is considering introducing this same policy. As far back as I can remember, Bermuda had a one-car-per-family policy and tourists could only use scooters or bikes.

Jersey needs to look at all these initiatives and formulate a sensible traffic plan, but recognising that they are about 20 years late in the process, maybe this can be done sooner rather than later and some basic initiatives taken without delay.