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Business owners and managers with premises next to the Park Row cycle lane have responded to accusations aimed at their vehicles’ stopping to offload or collect, saying there is nowhere else to park. Cyclists have called the pop-up cycle lane ‘useless’ due to vehicles stopping there, while the mayor of Bristol has asked people to stop being “selfish” by ignoring the no-parking rule.
However, ex-cricketer David ‘Syd’ Lawrence said that drivers stopping in the designated cycle lane literally have nowhere else to park. The former English cricketer and Gloucestershire County Cricket Club president has had a business on Park Row for over 20 years, and said there is no allowance for cars and vans which are dropping off or collecting.
“These cars which are stopping there are not random, they are connected to the businesses along the road. I have kegs and gas which are delivered,” he said, adding that should he double park, he would be in the path of any emergency vehicles going to the hospital. He said: “I don’t know where you are supposed to park, we pay our business rates.
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“We could park in the middle of the road, but common sense must prevail. Anyone who parks there is generally connected to a business.
“Cyclists don’t take businesses into consideration. We are all struggling businesses and it’s about some give and take,” he said. He suggested a consultation needs to take place to find a solution, which could include specified delivery times allowed along that stretch of road.
Bristol Live spoke to several other traders along the road, who preferred not to be named, in relation to the concerns raised by cyclists about the route being blocked. Another owner claimed that since the cycle lane had prevented cars from stopping or parking along the road, his business had dropped by 30 per cent but that his rent had increased.
He said: “I have deliveries every day, where are they supposed to park? This (cycle lane) is killing my business.”
He added that the cycle lane takes up a short stretch of road which he described as “useless”, while the lack of parking could result in businesses closing along that stretch. He added: “There was parking and people could park and grab a coffee. Customers don’t want to park and walk, so they go elsewhere.”
Yet another owner, who was busy offloading across the road in Park Row when Bristol Live visited the area, claimed there were very few cyclists using that cycle lane as it’s uphill, largely used by electric bikes. Another agreed, saying: “It’s a gradual burn, it’s all uphill.
“It’s taken away parking for anyone who came to get a sandwich, you have to use the multi-storey car park, so everyone loses except the electric bikes. No-one can park here, so no-one wants to use these facilities,” he said.
A staff member at another business said customers complained about being unable to park or having to park in the car park which was “too expensive”. The stretch of road affected by the cycle lane and suspended parking are mostly service-related including takeaways, cafes, hairdresser and beauty therapy salons and a barber.
There is parking for offloading around the corner, but the goods would then have to be carried the rest of the way. Suggestions for a potential way forward included business owners having a permit allowing them to park or offload.
The parking row in Park Row came to light when local cyclist Phil Sturgeon posted clips on Twitter, showing vehicles stopping in the cycle lane. The council advised that the pop-up cycle lane in this location is advisory and could only be enforced if it was specifically designated with a Traffic Regulation Order.
However, the council said that the offence of being parked in a suspended parking bay can be enforced against and a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) of £70, which would be reduced to £35 if paid within 14 days, can be issued by Civil Enforcement officers who patrol the area regularly.
Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees fielded questions about the cycling lane in a full council meeting on March 14, where he called on drivers to ‘stop being selfish’. But he also appealed to drivers and cyclists to “behave as though there are other people trying to make use of the space that you are using – whether cyclists using shared spaces with pedestrians, or whether its cars using shared space on roads with cyclists”.
Improvements are planned for the cycle lane, which was initially introduced as a temporary measure in 2020 but is due to be made permanent. Bristol City Council has said that builders will begin work at the end of this year, as part of two major walking and cycling upgrades.
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