Lymington Transition Group urging Forest cyclist to have say on London Tube-style network

CYCLISTS are being urged to have their say over plans to create a London Tube-style bike network throughout the New Forest.

Lymington Transition Group is urging bike users to go online and fill out a survey which gets to the bottom of their cycling needs.

Christchurch Bicycle Club chair David Orme, who is also a member of the New Forest Cycle Working Group and a cycling advisor to New Milton Green Routes, said: “If you already cycle, want to cycle more or would like to start cycling, then please tell the transition group about yourself, your nearest town, and which cycle routes on our Coast to Forest Tube map you do or would use the most.”

Last month, Lymington and Pennington town councillors voted unanimously to give their “wholehearted” support for the creation of a Forest-wide cycling network, creating a cycling charter to run alongside a coast-to-Forest interlink.

Despite receiving the support of Lymington councillors, members of New Milton Town Council said the town’s pothole-riddled roads would be too dangerous for the town to be part of the Tube-style network.

Mr Orme added: “We were encouraged by (New Milton councillors) wanting to see more cycling in the New Milton area, but felt they had possibly misconstrued the purpose of the Tube map, which is not intended to direct the public on routes they should cycle, but to help influence the New Forest’s Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans to focus on the Lymington and New Milton area in order to attract government funding.

“Those on low incomes are finding it increasingly harder to afford a car, if at all, and cycling would provide an economical means of transport for local journeys – as well as improving the health of the population, reducing pollution and being far more sustainable.”

Fill out the survey at forms.gle/6c1wHkEzNop1tNZF6