'It's time to make cycling safer and easier across Torbay'

The group want new segregated lanes to avoid potential conflicts between walkers, cyclists, cars and wheelchair users - boosting tourism and reducing car journeys and queues.

They are working with Torbay Council with a view to submitting a bid to Government to pay for the improvements - potentially linking up a selection of trails across the bay over five years.

The forum says it welcomes input from business groups and individuals to help shape the plans - including suggestions for junctions and layouts.

Thomas Bowyer, from the forum, said: "What we would like to see is an integrated segregated cycle way and pathways from Torquay all the way through to Brixham.

"It's a long plan, five years. What we are feeling in the forum is that we need to make sure we out in really good infrastructure as a posed to numerous bits of infrastructure which don't really tie up.

Anna Rowan-Dunstan, who cycles her son five miles to school each way in Stoke Gabriel, said: " My experience of cycling around Torbay? Mixed actually.

"Some of it is really quite OK, most drivers are pretty considerate - possibly because I've got a weird bike, maybe they want to take a look.

"I don't know whether it would be a different experience on a conventional bike. I can't really use the cycle paths is the main problem I have.

"So I've got a young child with me, but this won't go through any of the chicanes, it slows my journey down too much to use the proper cycle paths so I end up having to do all the cycling on roads."

Mike Elm, from Sustrans, is the country's first liveable towns coordinator and is working with Torbay Council on future plans.

Here's our full interview with Thomas Bowyer from the Torbay Cycling Walking Routes Forum:

He said: "Torbay Council is showing really good vision in terms of making a connected really-effective system of trails that will make it easier for people to walk, people to cycle, people travelling on wheelchair and also leaving space for those who need it to travel by car."

Torbay Councillor Mandy Darling regularly cycles on her tandem with her son - who guides her and backs calls for better cycling routes across the bay.

"With the transportation plans that the council have to really promote cycling and walking and wellbeing this is something that can only grow."

The forum's Mr Bowyer reiterated: "It's then incumbent upon the local population to say well this is great, this is what we need. We want cycleways, we want pathways, we want them to be segregated but we don't quite agree with how this bit is going to be done here.

"Have you thought (about this) and there's still time to make those (suggestions)."

For more about the Torbay Cycling Walking Routes Forum click here

The latest Torbay cycling map can be found here

For more about the Torbay Council Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan click here

For more about the Bay Trails proposals click here

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