Many thanks to Tony West and Paul Sample for raising the issue of the “no cycling signs” being removed from the Winchester street underpass (Journal, May 20).

COGS is sorry that they have misgivings about this and perhaps it is worth pointing out that the accident referred to by Paul Sample may have occurred when “no cycling” signs were in place, indicating that they may have been ineffective in deterring inconsiderate cycling.

COGS has been working in partnership with the previous Salisbury transportation team (and now Wiltshire Council) via the Cycling Liaison Panel (CLP) for approximately ten years. One of the joint aims of the partnership has been the revocation of the no cycling orders to improve cycling infrastructure across Salisbury. The city currently has a fragmented and disjointed network and we work to identify gaps and connections that will provide safer routes across the city.

Cycling can be part of everyday active travel and is particularly attractive to children wishing to increase their confidence and independence.

Following a fatality of a schoolchild a number of years ago traffic lights were installed at the London Road roundabout. The underpasses under the A30 sensibly and practically offer an alternative route particularly for children cycling to school.

Instead of continuing to prevent cyclists from using the city underpasses COGS would like to encourage Tony West and Paul Sample to take a more pragmatic approach, after all surely they would not want to see schoolchildren cycling on the A30? Cogs would like to see signs encouraging cyclists “to give priority and consideration to pedestrians”. In addition COGS members are also working with Wiltshire Council road safety unit to provide “National Standard Cycle Training” – in 2008, 2,000 children were trained in the county. Training courses for adult and child cyclists are available freely through the road safety unit and emphasise considerate behaviour as well as confidence and cycling technique.

COGS supports considerate cycling at all times and we would like to suggest that shared use signs should replace the no cycling signs where appropriate to make it clear that the space is shared and that pedestrians have priority. Shared use facilities such as the underpasses, the Laverstock to Bishopdown cycleway and the route from Bishopdown to Old Sarum also provide safer routes for those using wheel chairs.

Dr Jimmy Walker, Chairman, Cycling Opportunities Group for Salisbury