Protest song calls for cycle paths in Devon to be gritted
The record has been released by a councillor and Devon's former head of roads
A protest song has been released - by Devon's former head of roads - calling for more cycle paths to be gritted.
Former county councillor and now district and town councillor Stuart Hughes says at the moment only 14 miles of paths in Devon are gritted - all in Exeter - and 'cyclists across the county face icy, untreated paths despite growing active travel campaigns' - something he's long tried to find the budget to improve.
The part-time musician said: "The song calls for equity, expansion and recognition of all riders — not just those in urban zones."
Councillor Hughes reflected: "It's about the cycle ways not just in Devon but right across the country which never actually get treated.
"We've got hundreds and hundreds of cyclists who are going out and risking their lives on icy cycle tracks and whilst roads are being treated and gritted the poor old cyclists have to suffer.
"Some of them would like to get out on their bikes but don't feel they can get out on their bikes during the Winter and have to go to other sorts of transport modes."
The campaign is backed by Beth Huntley, the 'bike mayor' for Torbay who is calling for more measures to support active travel.
She said: "It's such a great way of getting about and it's really good for your health as well so its really important that we do everything we can to support people who would be cycling and it would save money for the NHS as well."
A Devon County Council spokesperson said in response: “The treatment of cycleways and footways to support sustainable travel during the winter months remains high on our agenda, and we’re one of the leading authorities in the country in terms of innovation and progress on this issue.
"We’re using our trial on cycle routes in Exeter to ensure we have fully assessed the vehicle, material and process involved in treating these routes.
"This will continue before we look at any expansion, and we also have to consider budget implications as we currently only have one vehicle to treat cycleways.”
Councillor Hughes has previously released a song calling for better Winter gritting