Motorists warned after complaints over illegal parking on cycle path
POLICE are warning motorists they will be fined if they park illegally on a cycle track.
Over the past three weekends, cars have reportedly obstructed the cycle path on the A57 between Saxilby and the junction of Broxholme Lane.
It is believed the vehicles belong to people fishing along the Fossdyke Navigation.
Police received a complaint about six cars parked at the location on Sunday, November 7, despite an almost empty car park nearby. The vehicles were apparently moved on by officers.
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A witness said on Saturday the cycle path was "completely blocked" by about 35 cars.
PCSO Melanie Goodwill said: "We are aware of the parking in this spot and we have worked with the anglers to ensure they are out the way of the path.
"That said, anyone causing an obstruction with their vehicle is committing an offence and is at risk of a ticket.
"We will continue to monitor the parking to ensure people who want to use the path are able to do so."
As reported in the Echo, work is to begin on a new £640,000 cycle track and footpath to link Saxilby and Lincoln by extending the route from the village to Burton Waters, to connect with the existing track into the city.
Cyclist Antony Daniels, of West Bank, Saxilby, said: "I do wonder why the council is spending all this amount of money merely to provide parking for fishermen.
"I should try to be less cynical, but as a cyclist in Lincolnshire, it's quite hard not to be.
"Cars parked in this way leave, at most, a very narrow gap between the vehicle and the A57 – a very busy road.
"I wouldn't risk taking children along this route while cars are parked."
Councillor Ray Sellars, who represents Nettleham and Saxilby on the county council, said: "There are no signs saying 'no parking', but it is illegal to park in the cycle track. We need to have a meeting with the anglers and all concerned."
Alan Brown, area highways manager, said: "Illegal parking is a police enforcement issue.
"However, we are happy to work with all parties to seek a solution; for example, there may be specific locations where physical measures could be introduced to discourage parking.
"Unfortunately, it is not realistic to provide warning signs on such a long route and there are no suitable signs within the relevant regulations which would be applicable.
"It perhaps would also be worth the fishing event organisers helping to warn fishermen ahead of subsequent enforcement action."
Comments
by Bristol Traffic, Bristol
Monday, November 22 2010, 12:35PM
“The driving instructor of Nottingham appears to have forgotten that bit of the highway code that says "cycle lanes are not mandatory". Sadly, this means that the police cannot fine cyclists for not using them -even when they are full of cars.
We in the Bristol Traffic Project do like to monitor and criticise the actions of cyclists in our city. Sadly, we find lots of driving instructors in there too, forced to park on pavements, in bike lanes and on double yellow lines.
http://bristolcars.blogspot.com/search/label/L-plate
You have to remember: don't teach your pupils these things, not until they've got through the test”
by driving instructor, Nottingham
Friday, November 19 2010, 6:50PM
“I trust the police will also prosecute cyclists that do not ride in the cycle lane along with riding thru red traffic lights and failing to stop at controlled and uncontrolled pedestrian crossings”
by Phillip Turner, Sheffield
Friday, November 19 2010, 2:39PM
“Mick - Saxilby "I have frequently seen cars and vans parked completely across this cycle path blocking it for both cyclists and pedestrians.
The local police are right to take this up as an issue as it focusses upon a group of inconsiderate group of individuals who are incapable of putting the safety needs of others ahead of their own short-term needs of convenience.
A car park HAS been provided for them they should damn well use it."
I assume you refer to the car park where the River Till meets the Fossdyke Navigation. This car park was not provided for anglers and it is half a mile away from the area where we fish. Hardly convenient. And - we are not inconsiderate people. You have no idea how much we have to take rubbish from people like you who have no tolerance for other peoples' needs.”
by The Boot, the other foot
Friday, November 19 2010, 9:53AM
“"@the boot and how do you come to the conclusion dogs cause more enviromental problems than cars do, proof please."
I didn't come to that conclusion, an article in New Scientist did. I'd give you a link but you have to subscribe to read the whole article.”
by Mick, Saxilby
Friday, November 19 2010, 8:22AM
“I have frequently seen cars and vans parked completely across this cycle path blocking it for both cyclists and pedestrians.
The local police are right to take this up as an issue as it focusses upon a group of inconsiderate group of individuals who are incapable of putting the safety needs of others ahead of their own short-term needs of convenience.
A car park HAS been provided for them they should damn well use it.”
by Phillip Turner, Sheffield
Thursday, November 18 2010, 7:14PM
“The complainants about anglers parking on the cycle path (I am one of the anglers) need to know that we have been in consultation with the local constabulary about this and they sympathetically accept the situation as long as we leave enough room for cyclists and pedestrians with push chairs to get past safely. The problem is that when the (very wide) cycle track was constructed last year the needs of the anglers were completely disregarded and no suitable parking option was implemented. We would park even further off the cycle track if we could but the construction left a very soft verge adjacent to the ditch. A couple of suitable placed parking laybys would help. As for the situation on Saturday, there were not 35 cars and the cycle track was not in anyway blocked so lets stick to some facts please. All we want to do is embellish our lives with the simple pleasure of angling so don't be so vindictively petty and let us get on with with it please. Why do cyclists think that they are the only important people on the planet? There really are much more important things to worry about.”
by rick, lincoln
Thursday, November 18 2010, 7:08PM
“@P, lincoln
i to see alot more motorists driving through red lights or not stopping at a zebra crossing when people are waiting to cross, speaking on the phone or in the wrong lane (as in dixon street/tritton road junction cars in middle lane going straight across instead of turning right like there suppose to).
@the boot and how do you come to the conclusion dogs cause more enviromental problems than cars do, proof please.
if you dont want to pay the VEDthen get a car that produces less than 100g/km CO2 emissions, instead of moaning about paying it. also trying to make insurance compulsory for cyclists wouldnt work as it would be impossible to enforce, cycling is green transport so is already exempt from VED.”
by Cameron Love, Lincoln
Thursday, November 18 2010, 4:03PM
“"there are no suitable signs".......
Is this not the height of ridiculous red-tape where we now have to get some highway law passed to allow the production and displaying of a "No Parking On Cycle Path" sign in the area.”
by The Boot, the other foot
Thursday, November 18 2010, 1:41PM
“Oh, so we're bringing the environment into this, are we? Well, dogs cause far more environmental damage than cars do. I therefore propose that an annual tax of £1000 per dog be levvied against dog owners and the money used to fund a reduction in road tax and fuel duty.”
by P, Lincoln
Thursday, November 18 2010, 1:33PM
“To encourage greener transport, get off your lazy, fat, polluting backside. How many car drivers cocooned in their cars paying no attention to whats going on around them, listening to loud music, smoking, on the phone (some even texting!!!!) Don't talk to me about cyclists running red lights I've lost count of the number of times a car has run a red and nearly knocked me off - and now its colder weather how many cars will I see with drivers not clearing their windscreens and cannot see where they are actually going!!”