Road layout sparks safety fears among cyclists on route that gives priority to drivers over riders
Cyclists who use one of Stirling’s cycle paths say that the road layout – which gives priority to vehicles at junctions – has sparked safety fears among the city’s cycling community.
The cycle path along Cornton Road give motorists the right of way at each of the junctions along the route, meaning that cyclists must come to a halt in order to allow traffic to negotiate junctions there.
Stirling Council had previously agreed to look at the issue, but to date, the road layout still means that cyclists must stop to accommodate vehicles, with one local councillor calling for action to make the route safer for cyclists and compliant with the Highway Code.
Dunblane and Bridge of Allan Green councillor, Alasdair Tollemache has been calling for action on the route for the last two years and says he has been inundated by emails and messages about the issue from concerned cyclists.
READ MORE: Driver charged over fatal Bannockburn crash which claimed lives of two teens
“Over the last two years, cyclists have contacted me frustrated by the lack of action on this issue”, Cllr Tollemache said. “We’re trying to encourage active travel and simply changing the priority at the junctions along the cycle path alongside Cornton Road would comply with the highway code and make cyclists safer.
“I have pressed the council again this week for a timescale.”
Click here for more news and sport from the Stirling area.
Sally Stovell is a local resident and mother who cycles with her children to school. She said: “It prioritises cars instead of bikes and it’s a bike lane.
“It would also make more people use the bike lanes rather than just going on the road.
“Why would you go on a lane where you have to slow down at every junction when you can go on the road and have right of way?
“Imagine they made cars give way on a main road at every side street.
“The need to make active travel appealing and work if they actually want people to use it.”
Kevin Simpson, a local resident and father who also cycles the route with his daughter, said: “The danger is from both sides when cycling, especially with my daughter; it’s a lottery that does not favour the cyclist as to what drivers will do.
“Both drivers exiting onto Cornton Road, but worse from those coming off Cornton Road and into a side street without a pause.“
READ MORE: Stirling business community joins forces to fight crime and antisocial behaviour in city centre
Dr Matt Kidd, who commutes along Cornton Road, said: “They cause danger and uncertainty when I cycle to work.
“Drivers on the whole are considerate and understand that cycles are going to cross the side roads, giving way to me which is nice, but there’s a good deal of uncertainty which is where the risk of an event increases.
“I’ve cycled in many European cities and applaud that vision the council has.”
Dr Crispin Bennett, another commuter along the route, added: “It causes confusion and conflict, in addition to being dangerous. It always goes against the Highway Code.”
A Stirling Council spokesperson said: “We are aware of these issues on Cornton Road.
“Officers are assessing what improvements are required to the road and the wider network following the changes to the Highway Code in relation to bike prioritisation. A decision will be taken on this as soon as possible.”