Bognor seafront cycle route may be extended

The vision of a cycle route which stretches from Felpham to Aldwick has been outlined by the county council's cycling champion, Derek Whittington.

Cllr Whittington said he would like to see some three kilometres of the promenade opened up to the two wheelers.

"My personal view, as a member of the highway authority, would be to see a cycle route from Sea Road in Felpham to Fish Lane in Aldwick. I do not see why that would not be possible," he said.

He was speaking as he officially opened the cycle route between Sea Road and the Gloucester Road car park. This one kilometre stretch of the seafront has become a shared section of seafront between cyclists and pedestrians.

Work on the 12,000 initiative was completed about Easter with signs installed along the route and ridged paving at both ends.

But the area has longed been used by cyclists in spite of being legally banned. "This scheme is just regularising what has been going on throughout my lifetime," said Cllr Whittington.

"This is a lovely stretch of the seafront. We all have to learn to share the space with each other '“ pedestrians, cyclists, electric buggy users and the land train.

"We will evaluate the use of this route over the next 12 months and see if we can extend it along the whole length of the promenade."

The official opening was marked by a bicycle maintenance workshop, free bike bells and postcoding of cycles by the police. Dozens of cyclists enjoyed the occasion.

The cycle route is a joint project between the county council and Arun District Council.

Arun's councillor for the environment, Paul Wotherspoon, said: "I consulted widely on this scheme and addressed all the issues that were raised. Hopefully, this new route will be enjoyed by everyone."

Felpham cyclist Sue Briggs, a retired secretary, said: "I have been going on about having this cycle route for many years.

"We should be able to go through to the town from Felpham. I cycle along the seafront most days in the summer. I'm a driver, but it's often quickly to cycle into the town centre than it is to drive."

All-night cyclists from London were among the first to enjoy the new seafront route.

Many of them went along the promenade to start their return journey to the capital by train. The 75-strong peloton spent the early hours of last Saturday pedalling the 72 miles from Constitution Arch in Hyde Park to Felpham seafront.

The Cheam and Morden Cyclists' Touring Club members repeated the inaugual staging of their Friday night capital-to-coast ride of 2009 because it was such a success.

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