Spalding’s town-centre cycling rules are back under scrutiny after the Spalding Business Improvement District (BID) received 146 comments in two weeks about people cycling on pavements and in pedestrianised areas.
The BID says it has passed the findings to Lincolnshire Police, South Holland District Council’s Community Safety Team, Lincolnshire County Council, Active Travel, the PEDALS cycling group and local secondary schools. Lincolnshire Police says it is working with the district council to explore possible solutions.
Cycling on pavements and in pedestrianised areas is illegal. Police are responsible for enforcing the law, although the source report says staffing issues have made it difficult to police such incidents widely.
What people told the BID
The BID began asking people to report their experiences earlier this year, after seeking the inclusion of measures to curb cycling in a new Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) for Spalding. It says it was told there was not enough evidence to include cycling in the order.
That changed after the appeal for comments. The BID said it had been “overwhelmed” by the response, with 146 comments submitted over a fortnight.
“The vast majority support the need for people to be more responsible when cycling through the main town centre, particularly on pavements and pedestrian areas.”
A BID spokesman said people had described near misses and incidents in which pedestrians were hit by cyclists. The organisation also said some people now felt frightened about visiting the town centre because they were worried about being knocked over.
“Many of the comments shared genuinely concerning experiences, including near misses and people being hit by cyclists.”
“We also heard from people who now feel frightened about coming into town because they’re worried about being knocked over.”
The BID also reported concerns about cyclists, including school-aged children, travelling the wrong way along Vine Street and Broad Street. It said this created potentially dangerous situations for cyclists and pedestrians.
“There were also reports of cyclists, including school-aged children, travelling the wrong way along Vine Street and Broad Street – creating potentially dangerous situations for both cyclists and pedestrians.”
BID says issue is about safe sharing
The organisation said its position was not opposed to cycling. Instead, it said the aim was to encourage safer use of the town centre by everyone, while recognising cycling’s role in Spalding and the wider transport network.
“This isn’t about being anti-cycling.”
“Cycling is an important part of our town and our wider transport network. It’s about sharing our town centre responsibly and safely, and making sure pedestrians and cyclists can both use our streets without putting others at unnecessary risk.”
The evidence gathered by the BID has now been shared with bodies involved in policing, community safety, highways and active travel, as well as with a cycling group and local secondary schools. The next step identified by police is joint work with South Holland District Council to consider how the issue might be addressed.
What happens to Spalding’s PSPO?
The current PSPO for Spalding is legally enforceable until Wednesday, December 23. The district council says the order is in place to improve the quality of life for people living, working and visiting the area.
The cycling concerns emerged as officials consider how the town’s public-space rules should address behaviour in pedestrian areas. The source material does not state whether cycling restrictions will be added to a replacement or revised order.
A Lincolnshire Police spokesman said:
“We have been contacted by Spalding BID in relation to cycling issues in the town centre. We are working with South Holland District Council to explore solutions to the issue.”
The comments reported by the BID cover both the experience of pedestrians and concerns about cyclists’ safety. Any response will therefore involve balancing access to the town centre with the existing prohibition on cycling on pavements and in pedestrianised areas.