Kent cyclists in lie-down protest for safer cycling

Kent cyclists have campaigned for safer cycling in a show-stopping way – lying down in the middle of the road.

Around 70 cyclists gathered in the road outside the Tunbridge Wells war memorial on Wednesday (April 15) to protest in a very visible manner about the lack of cycling infrastructure in the region.

The protest lasted no longer than five minutes and traffic was allowed to resume thereafter.

The unusual public protest mimicked a similar act in the 1970s in Holland when locals appealed for more cycling-related projects. They, as is now the envy of the cycling world, got their wish.

“We are echoing protests made by Dutch cyclists in the 70s, who were campaigning for safer roads. We want the same here,” one of the protestors James Gower told Kent Online.

>>> Petition set up to stop removal of cycle lane in Maidstone

Kent cyclists want to see a variety of improvements in cycling, including segregated cycling lanes alongside roads where the speed limit exceeds 20mph.

Cycle paths separated from country roads by barriers are also being demanded, as are cycle storage and parking in town centres.