The Cyclists’ Defence Fund (CDF), a charity set up to challenge legal issues affecting cyclists, has served notice on Sheffield City Council Highways that it considers one of its iconic roads to be 'out of repair'.
The action, brought on behalf of the charity by trustee Martyn Bolt, relates to Strines Moor in the Peak District.
The route linking the A616 from Langsett to the A57 at Ladybower has been used in stages of the Tour of Britain and is likely to feature in Sheffield's proposal to host part of the Tour de France during 2016.
In some places it is impossible to cycle the road without hitting a pothole or other defect, and as gradients are as steep as one in four, the charity fears for the safety of road users.
Notes to Editors:
CDF was set up in 2001 by CTC, the national cyclists’ organisation in response to the case of Darren Coombes, a nine year old cyclist who suffered brain damage from a collision with a motorist. CTC became concerned after the driver’s insurers responded to Darren’s claim for damages by counter-suing his parents for contributory negligence because Darren was not wearing a helmet. Although the insurer’s counter-claim was ultimately defeated, CDF was formed in the aftermath to defend cyclists in similar precedent-setting cases.
CDF supported CTC in preparing a legal challenge to the Department for Transport’s proposed revisions to the Highway Code, which had the potential to leave cyclists open to both civil and criminal prosecutions if they did not use cycle facilities for any reason. The threat of legal action persuaded Ministers to clarify in the wording that the use of cycle facilities is not compulsory.
