A ‘CYCLE bus’ aimed at helping kids cycle safely into Winchester is trialling a commuter shuttle bus while pushing for lower speed limits.
The Twyford and Colden Common CycleBus is encouraging commuters to join its route from Colden Common to Hockley Link on Wednesdays March 1 and 8 to help people get into Winchester without driving.
The shuttle service will run from Colden Common Recreation Ground at 8am, 8.50am and 9.40am and at 4pm and 4.50pm with stops and meeting points at Twyford and Hockley.
Meanwhile, a group of Twyford residents along with ward councillor Sue Cook will be crossing the B3335 by the school, the Phoenix pub and the post office to slow down the traffic and demonstrate why the speed limits need reducing.
Currently, the speed limit changes five times in the 3.8 miles from Hockley Link to Fisher’s Pond with 60mph limit towards Hockley Link and 30mph limits in place through Twyford and Colden Common.
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The 60mph limit means Hampshire County Council can not install a cycle path so the group are petitioning for the speed limit to be lowered.
Cllr Cook said: “We want to encourage as many people as possible to get on their bike and Hampshire County Council needs to understand what these high speeds are doing to our villages.
“The B3335 is supposed to be a relief road to relieve congestion on the motorway but people are using it all the time. Twyford is not the village to come through.
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“The county council has said there have been no fatalities in response to our pleas to change the speed limit but this is about prevention not cure.”
Cycle bus organiser Tony Higginson said:"It's important to demonstrate the cycling demand to Hampshire county councillors who do not use active travel methods themselves and so fail to lead by example or have no understanding of active travel from their car seats.
"The only way to do this is to be on the road amongst cars and HGVs, who use the B3335 as a way of cutting through residential areas to avoid routes more suitable for them, such as the motorway, until the county council actually take notice."
In Twyford where the speed limit stands at 30mph, Cllr Cook was out with Hampshire Highways with a radar gun from 9am-11am on Monday, February 27. The team recorded more than 48 people travelling between 35 to 52 mph in just two hours.
Cllr Cook added: “The results were staggering and prove it is not safe for cyclists. I’m not suggesting a blanket 20mph speed limit but through a village it is needed. To go straight to a 60mph zone is unacceptable, it needs to go down to 40mph.”
For more information go to changex.org/us/cycle-bus-uk/twyford-winchester-hampshire/events/cycle-bus-shuttle-service.
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