We moved to Winchester nearly 50 years ago and my family cycled to school and generally in Winchester happily and safely. Children have moved away but my husband and I continue to cycle locally despite an unprecedented increase in traffic. And we do now have electric bikes. Practically all drivers are careful and considerate, and cycling is the only sensible way for me to get about. 

However, I now find the junction of Clifton Terrace with Romsey Road utterly terrifying.  My dentist is on St James' Terrace. Crossing that junction on my bike used to be straightforward. Straight ahead at the junction, up the pavement ramp and through the bollards. This week I had to swing up to the right and curve back around to the traffic lights on the left when they were red (hoping they wouldn't change while I was doing this, which they did, but again the driver was considerate and waited for me) and swing sharply back to the right to cycle up the ramp and through the bollards to St James Terrace, by which time I was a nervous wreck. I will not try this dangerous manoeuvre again. So I shall dismount, but the only way to do this is to dismount some distance back from the junction as there are no cyclists way up onto the pavement in a sensible place. Returning from the dentist is no easier.  My husband cycles up from town and turns right into Clifton Terrace, another difficult and ill-thought-out turn. Those who created that junction with permission for cyclists to turn left out of it, and right into it are surely not cyclists themselves.

On the positive side, we were delighted to have an advanced cyclists lane at the junction of Hyde Street with City Road.  Even more helpful though would be an advanced lane at the bottom of Stockbridge Road (by the station) and for those who use Andover Road, another one there too. 

I very much hope that this letter will result in some improvements before there is an accident.

Sue Woodd,

Dean Lane,

Winchester

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