Harrie Larrington-Spencer – Stockport Council (photo credit – Harrie Larrington-Spencer) The barriers, which Stockport Council hoped would combat anti-social behaviour, were criticised for restricting access for disabled people
Stockport Council’s decision to backtrack on its plans to introduce more barriers on cycling and walking routes has been welcomed by campaigners, who said that the barriers would discriminate against disabled people who use non-standard cycles, wheelchairs, and mobility aids.
In February, road.cc reported that Stockport Council had launched a consultation on a draft ‘access control’ policy in the wake of new government guidance concerning the design of “high quality, safe cycling infrastructure”.
This draft policy included introducing measures such as chicanes, bollards, and barriers on some cycling routes to tackle anti-social behaviour.
Labour councillor Dean Fitzpatrick claimed at the time that the authority’s plans were about trying to “balance everything for the whole community”.
“I think in the way we have got unsafe, selfish, speeding, erratic car drivers, we also have the same with cyclists and we also have the same with people on scooters,” Fitzpatrick told Stockport Council in February.
However, the plans were heavily criticised by active travel campaigners who argued that the proposed barriers did not “meet the legal access requirements” and would prevent disabled people from using the routes. > Disabled cyclist accuses Stockport Council of trying to “worm its way out” of making sure that all cycling and walking routes are accessible “The very basic bare minimum the council should be doing, they don’t reach that, which morally is […]
Continue reading the original article at: road.cc