Outraged pedestrians and cyclists have slammed newly submitted plans for a crossing which forms part of a larger business park site.
A new application for a pedestrian crossing in Lakeview Drive, Bicester, which is the latest highway management proposal within an approved 60,000 square metre business park, has come under fire from pedestrian and cyclist organisations.
The proposed crossing would require pedestrians to cross the road in four stages, over four islands.
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Danny Yee, of Oxfordshire Liveable Streets, said: “Not only are people walking going to face long delays, but they are going to spend that time standing on narrow islands with noisy, polluting motor traffic on both sides of them.
“This is much worse as a deterrent than delaying people driving by a similar amount of time, and will affect frail or disabled people, children, or people walking with children.”
Oxfordshire Liveable Streets put forward a few suggestions for the crossing it believes would benefit pedestrians.
Mr Yee added: “Requiring four staggered stages for someone walking to make a single crossing of the development entry is positively anti-pedestrian and needs to be rethought completely.
“We suggest aligning the pedestrian crossing with the cycle crossing. That will avoid confusion for drivers who will not expect to have to stop twice in quick succession for crossings. It would also allow the crossing to be reduced to two pedestrian stages.”
Oxford Pedestrians Association also stated its opposition to the crossing proposal, arguing it would be particularly bad for children and wheelchair users.
Sushila Dhall, chair of the association, said: “This is just the type of crossing that needs to be phased out rather than installed. It puts pedestrians at the bottom of the road users’ hierarchy.
“This type of broken, staggered crossing takes ages to cross, leaving people stranded amidst traffic noise and toxic fumes.
“For wheelchair users and children it is even worse as they are at or near the level of exhaust pipes.”
Catherine Hickman, chair of Bicester Bike Users’ Group, agreed that the design is deeply flawed.
She said: “This is a key route for pedestrians and cyclists travelling to school, Bicester Avenue, Kingsmere and Wendlebury, where vulnerable users walking or wheeling should be given much better provision.
“As proposed, pedestrians will be expected to cross in four separate stages, in the meantime waiting on tiny islands surrounded by a sea of busy traffic.
“This is a very poor design for those who will have to use it, and presents a barrier to anyone considering active travel.
“We would like to see Oxfordshire Highways raise an objection to it in its current form.”
The applicant of the planning proposal, Peveril Securities, has been contacted for comment.
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This story was written by Matthew Norman, he joined the team in 2022 as a Facebook community reporter.
Matthew covers Bicester and focuses on finding stories from diverse communities.
Get in touch with him by emailing: Matthew.norman@newsquest.co.uk
Follow him on Twitter: @OxMailMattN1
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