THE CAMPAIGN for more, and improved, cycling facilities in Sevenoaks has begun.

Despite many commuters choosing to pedal their way to the train station, until now cycling has been a topic which has struggled to get attention.

But individuals and groups have started to raise the problems cyclists face and are calling for more action to be taken.

Reg Oakley is the Cyclists' Touring Club's Right to Ride representative for Sevenoaks, a new role based on campaigning for cycling facilities in the area.

Citing the main issues faced by cyclists as the speed and volume of traffic, Mr Oakley said: "For decades highway engineering has been done in a way to make the flow of motorised traffic as quick as possible and this has been accomplished at the expense of vulnerable highway users – cyclists and pedestrians.

"Virtually nothing has happened in West Kent and I think getting councils to listen and back us is essential.

"I would like to see more adoptions of 20mph speed limits and dedicated cycle lanes and cycle paths away from the roads."

To spearhead the campaign Mr Oakley is holding an inaugural meeting of the Sevenoaks Cycling Forum – a body which he envisages will be used for campaigning and publicising information.

Plans are already afoot to conduct a survey of rail travellers to gauge the needs of commuting cyclists and look at cycle training schemes.

Mr Oakley said: "I would say that the perception of cycling in Sevenoaks, because of the traffic, makes it seem worse than it really is.

"I would like to give confidence to people to cycle in Sevenoaks."

Tony Clayton, a Sevenoaks town councillor and commuter, has been riding his bike to and from the railway station for 25 years.

He said: "The real problem is that our local traffic engineers have focused on more cars for 25 years, and not thought about bikes."

Mr Clayton said Kent County Council wrote to the town council last week refusing to support 20mph zones in the town.

"Tonbridge has had them, and cycle routes, for 15 years," he said.

"Why are Sevenoaks' county councillors so powerless when it comes to making our roads safer?"

Another campaigning voice for cycling is the Sevenoaks Town Youth Council.

Youth councillor and cycling enthusiast Edmund Davies, 14, said the council had invited Mr Oakley to its next meeting on Wednesday to discuss possible solutions.

He said: "I think people are put off by the lack of cycle lanes and how quickly drivers go past.

"I cycle on the roads and it would be better if drivers were more considerate.

"On several occasions I have had cars clip my handlebars."

According to Mr Clayton, the first priorities to improve the situation should be safe routes to schools and the station, existing roads to be made safer for bikes and linking areas cut off by unsafe roundabouts, such as Riverhead.

He said: "We just need to send our traffic engineers and their political masters back to school for some cycling lessons."

The inaugural Sevenoaks Cycling Forum meeting will be held at 7pm on Thursday February 19 at the Sevenoaks Community Centre.

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