Bikes, e-scooters and skateboards to be banned from parts of Bedford

Bicycles, e-scooters and skateboards are set to be banned from certain parts of Bedford.

Council executive members have agreed to Public Space Protection Orders that restrict their use.

Under the orders, riding a bike will be banned through the main pedestrian area of Bedford Town Centre between 9am and 6pm.

Skateboarding and e-scooters will also be banned from the main pedestrian area - and e-scooters will also not be allowed in listed parks and open spaces.

A report presented to Bedford Borough Council's Executive on Wednesday (March 2) said Public Space Protection Orders (PSPO) are designed to ensure the law-abiding majority can use and enjoy public spaces, safe from anti-social behaviour or unlawful behaviour.

It added that the prohibitions included in these PSPO are "proportionate, based on evidence, consultation responses and analysis and are necessary to address the ongoing issues within the specified designated location".

Councillor Charles Royden (LibDems, Brickhill Ward), the portfolio holder for environment, highways and transport, introducing the PSPOs to the Executive, said: "I don't think that anybody could seriously question the commitment of this council to promoting sustainable travel choices, including cycling.

"Only yesterday evening (Tuesday, March 1) I was looking at amazing plans to bring forward millions of pounds worth of investment in making cycling available for all, and accessible for all, in Bedford, and especially around the town centre.

"But we mustn't allow cycling or dogs or scooters in places where they shouldn't be, and we've consulted on these things.

"We have had a majority of 64 people in a public consultation who wanted [to] cycle, but we had overwhelming support from the businesses not to allow cycling on the pavements of pedestrianised areas.

"And we also had support from the police," he said.

Councillor Doug McMurdo (Independent, Sharnbrook Ward) said that some people have claimed that cyclists will be forced into using A class roads by the Restriction Zone.

"I don't agree with that," he said.

"We'll have to come on to the A class roads to get into the area in any event.

"One actually said why are we discriminating against those in this area and not including Lime Street?

"I think we possibly failed, if I might say, and I'm not encouraging would do it, but maybe Lime Street ought to have been included.

"Would you actually cycle in Centre:MK," he asked

Councillor Henry Vann (LibDems, De Parys Ward), the portfolio holder for town centres and planning, said he had cycled through the town centre, in the rain, to get to the meeting.

"It had previously been effectively illegal to cycle through the town centre, and it has been made easier to do so by this administration," he said.

"As cyclists, and as a council, I think it's important we listen to representatives of those with disabilities, including those with visual impairments.

"I will be supporting the restrictions on e-scooters and inconsiderate cycling in

the limited number of pedestrianised areas, pavements effectively, in the town centre for the limited time for which has been proposed.

"I think we should reject this evening a false narrative, and emphasize that Bedford is a pedestrian-friendly and cycle-friendly town," he said.

Bedford mayor, Dave Hodgson, said: "What we have here is allowing us to enable our civil enforcement team to take action rather than it having to be police, who are stretched with doing a whole range of things."

Councillor Louise Jackson (Labour, Harpur Ward) said: "I gave a lot of thought to this because I've had a lot of representations, I'm sure we all have, on this matter.

"But I do think that the narrative is wrong, I think that people are left with the impression that you can't cycle in Bedford town centre.

"That's just not true because I've been doing it for years and the PSPO hasn't prevented me from doing that," she said.

Before the executive were asked to agree the recommendations put to them, councillor Royden said "I'm pleased to have the support of Labour colleagues, our independent representative councillor McMurdo, even the leader of the Conservative Party [sic].

"I'm very sorry that our Green councillors have taken this position to try and paint this as some kind of ban on cycling, which it is not because, of course, we are very supportive of cycling we just want to keep people safe."

As they are not members of the executive, Green councillors used the open questions agenda item earlier in the meeting to make various points against the PSPO.

Councillor Lucy Bywater (Castle Ward) asked if public health officers had any input into the consultation.

"The council needs to be doing as much as it can to make active travel as easy as possible including cycling for elderly and disabled people to improve health and well-being," she said/

"Whereas, presenting cycling in itself as a blanket anti-social activity will do the opposite.

"And it appears already to be reducing numbers of people cycling within the wider town centre," she said.

In a reply, councillor Jackson said: "The Public Health team didn't respond because it was an extension to an existing policy.

"Rather than a change in town centre's cycling policy."

Councillor Bywater added: "We have to think about how older people can extend their cycling lives, they might may have cycled their whole life, they may have got a disability.

"But cycling is a way that they can continue to cycle and it's a way that they can include activity in their daily routine.

"So I think a blanket ban is harmful," she said.