More than 1,000 sign petition on Walsall cycle path

Cyclists say the track on Station Road in Pelsall, which currently has barriers to stop nuisance motorbikers, is too narrow for them to get past.

The path, which stretches to Cartbridge Lane South, features four sets of p-barriers – anti-motorcycle barriers.

The gap between barriers along the disused railway line – called National Cycling Network Route 5 – is approximately 21.5 inches.

Andrew Moult, from Pelsall, has restricted mobility due to osteoarthritis and uses the route often,

The 60-year-old said: "The petition was set up by myself and Peter Hubbard, who has Parkinson's and is a cancer survivor.

"What we did we actually went to Transport for West Midlands and set about finding a solution because we can't get through – neither can mobility scooters, or a person with two sticks, or someone with a pram.

Foolish

"Isn't it foolish to stop people who want to use it?

"So we set up a petition and we found 157 people, in one morning, were using that track.

"It's nice to go to a place you want to go to and then come back a different route, but we have to go to the same route – to the barrier and then back again.

"It would be a great thing to encourage people to cycle."

Now the petition, called The Thin Blue Line, has been handed over to Walsall Council after attracting 1,028 signatures.

It has been circulated through Nisa stores, cafes and Walsall College to raise awareness of it.

The petition will be presented Councillor Richard Worrall, who represents Rushall-Shelfield, who has backed the campaign.

It will go before Walsall Council on September 16.