Cyclists Speak Out: Oxford Road Conditions Encouraging Road Rage in Reading

The number of cyclist accidents and deaths in the past few years has risen through the roof. The advent of the pandemic and an environmentally conscious mindset have made people shift to more viable options for transportation. Cycling is slowly becoming a popular choice of commute for people, with health and wellness awareness at its peak.

More people are now on the roads with cycles than ever before, but this comes with its challenges. Local governments worldwide have not considered the uptick in cyclists and left the road infrastructure to handle the pressure of increasing the number of wheels on the roads.

Oxford Road is not safe anymore, say cyclists

Cyclists have long demanded action by the local authorities to fix their issues but to no avail. In the latest news, cyclists from Reading have complained about the aggressive driving nature on Oxford Road, making commuting for them nothing less than a near-death experience.

The road is one of the busiest stretches in the city, with school kids and office goers regularly plying that route. Add to that the increasing number of cyclists is a recipe for disaster. The infrastructure of the road has remained the same, and they have made no upgrades to incorporate the cyclists.

Residents of the area have long argued and voiced their concerns. Authorities will need to take their issues into consideration before a fatal or tragic accident takes place.

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Safety struggles on Oxford road: Cyclists demand change

Kahleen Heath, the organizer of the Critical Cycle in their local district, spoke to the media and gave her thoughts about the rash driving and unsafe road conditions. “At this time, Oxford Road is just ridiculous. There is no room for cyclists and when we do try to travel down Oxford Road, it is shocking the abuse we get sometimes. My son has been sworn at on his way to school by an impatient driver. It really is scary when I think about my child ever cycling alone on Oxford Road.”

A spokesperson from Reading Borough Council said: “The Oxford Road is a busy urban corridor that is both a local destination for retail, employment, healthcare and education, and a strategic corridor for buses, freight including through traffic and local deliveries, and cars traveling into Reading from the west. It is also a key cycle route in to Reading from residential areas in West Reading.

“There is a lack of available highway space on the Oxford Road making it challenging to provide separate cycle lanes that are segregated from general traffic in line with the latest Department for Transport guidance.

With the growing number of cyclists deaths all across the globe, it is certainly an area of key concern. Authorities have their hands tied and must tackle the issue head-on. Every person on the road deserves the right to safety and there need to be upgrades in the infrastructure in order to maintain harmony in the community.

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