As many residents have already discovered, going for a bike ride is a great way to exercise and socialise with friends and family while social distancing remains in place.
With the Stay at Home order coming to an end, and outdoor gatherings of six people or two households soon allowed, Dorset Council is expecting an increase in family groups walking and cycling together.
Cllr Ray Bryan, Portfolio Holder for Highways, Travel and Environment, said: “We’ve seen many residents making best use of their daily exercise throughout each national lockdown, and many have rediscovered the enjoyment of their local area for walking and cycling.
“We fully expect to see many more local people, as well as day visitors, taking advantage of the fantastic walking routes and cycleways we have across the county and we’re keen that everyone shares these spaces and remains respectful of each other.
“This is not aimed at any one group of people – walkers, runners, cyclists, dog walkers – this is about all of us, as individuals, being mindful of others.”
Being considerate on a shared-use path:
- When walking your dog, please keep your pooch on a short lead
- If walking in a group, please stay to one side of the path
- Out running for a PB? Please head out at a quieter early morning or evening time, otherwise be prepared to slow down and navigate around others
- When cycling, please travel at a speed suitable to the conditions – ensuring you can stop quickly and easily
- Please use your bell
- ‘Thank you’ costs nothing
Sharing the road with others:
- cyclists can ride on the road, even if a cycleway is provided nearby
- if cycling on the road, all road signs/signals must be obeyed
- drivers should allow plenty of space when overtaking a cyclist, and ensure it is safe to do so
- drivers can overrun into on-road cycle lanes, if safe to do so
- electric scooters are currently not allowed on any public road, pavement, or cycleway in the Dorset Council area
Dorset Council’s Road Safety Team is hoping to be back delivering free cycle training for primary-aged school children with Bikeability sessions, which take place outside, during the summer term.
The council has also teamed up with local cycle trainers across the council area to provide tuition to adults wanting to refresh their cycle skills and feel more confident. These are individually tailored to your specific needs, take place outside and can be done as one-to-one sessions.
Please pick up dog mess
Whilst it is great to see so many out cycling please could we have some education for the small but significant number of cyclists who accidentally or deliberately cycle on public footpaths (yellow arrow). As a motorist, I respect the rights of cyclists and give them 2m passing space, etc. Cyclists should respect my right as a pedestrian to enjoy public footpaths without encountering ANY vehicle. We are blessed with many bridleways (blue arrow) for cyclists who wish to enjoy off-road cycling.
Your article omits one of the single most contentious and pavement rage inducing activites – people cycling on standard pavements. Is this allowed or not in Dorset?
For the first time in several months i visited my daughter. My route took me
along the Ferndown and Wimborne bypass and i was a shocked to see so much road side rubbish, is there any chance getting this cleared up as it is a disgrace to our county. I wonder what visitors must think.
I am fed up with cyclists and electric scooters on the prom.
They go too fast are In great numbers and you have to be continually looking around to make sure they are not bumping into you. Walking is not the relaxing experience it should be.
It seems they have more rights than the walkers