Mystery of the cycle path that never was

Disappointingly, more than ten months later and despite numerous forays into Hoe Lane in Flansham to check the path's progress, I am still unable to find any sign of a cycleway.

Does anyone know what is happening with this?

This is one project which will benefit numerous cyclists in the area. It will ensure they are separated as much as possible during their commute from motorists, who, I must say, on my excursions are generally fairly considerate of their two-wheeled counterparts.

It may also have encouraged existing car drivers to cycle, leaving their vehicle at home instead of suffering the extortionate and limited Barnham station car park '“ something that would benefit their health, their pockets and the environment.

Jim McEwan, Middleton-on-Sea

I, like Dr Ridley, am a car driver, cyclist and a pedestrian. To listen to the arguments, one would think hundreds of pedestrians are being killed and mutilated by errant cyclists on the streets of Bognor.

I am sure the police have much better things to do than prosecute cyclists who use the pavement.

In my mind, the current policy will only penalise ordinary adult cyclists using the pavement for their own safety and who ride with consideration for other people, and not the '˜yobbish' ones who ride with gay abandon along the pavements of the town.

Therefore, it would be a lot safer for all concerned to have a proper cycle lane on pavements marked out clearly for all to see and use. This could then be legally enforced.

This seems to work well in other towns I have visited, including the seafronts of Worthing and Brighton.

The majority of cycle lanes in and around Bognor are badly maintained, uneven, narrow and often overgrown with overhanging branches and brambles.

To encourage cyclists to use them, they must be well-maintained and suitable for purpose. To ride safely close to the pavement is very difficult, with debris, glass, poorly-maintained ironware and large potholes it is getting increasingly difficult, and to ride 3ft into the roadway is dicing with death.

Trevor Staff, Park Drive, Felpham

ONE OF the worst parts of our journey is Aldwick Street, by the Ship Hotel. This is so dangerous a real borough engineer would pack up and go in shame.

Why can't cyclists join the promenade at the start of Marine Drive West and exit at West Street traffic lights? This would save us from traffic lights at Woods Travel and along Aldwick Road. We have no cycle lanes from Pagham or Nyetimber where we live.

We wrote to the council about this, as we would like to cycle to Chichester.

The reply was to cycle to Bognor, then to Chichester via the cycle track on the A259. We are OAPs not '˜head down, bum up' cyclists.

We try to keep fit and take cars off the road '“ if things don't improve, we will have to drive.

E and R Altria,

Old Barn Close, Pagham