DANGEROUS, vile and dreadful is how some readers have described their experiences cycling around Worcester.

Some even went as far as to say they would never cycle in the city for safety reasons.

To mark Cycle to Work Day on August 3, Worcester News asked its readers if it is easy to commute around Worcester. 

Many had voiced issues with poor cycle infrastructure around the city and said more needed to be done.

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In response, Cllr Mike Rouse, Worcestershire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, said the council is continually looking at ways to improve Worcester's cycling network.

He also mentioned they are developing a Local Cycling and Walking Plan (LCWIP) to identify cycling and walking priorities in and around the city.

One reader, Nick Weeks, said: "Worcester is fairly vile for cycling: few and inadequate cycle paths; grossly unsuitable shared-use paths (such as the canal towpath); poor cycle parking provision and even when it does exist, it's not publicised."

Stu Willetts added: "It’s a nightmare, with potholes and drains that cover almost all of the available cycle lanes, you end up on the white lines or just on the right of the white-painted cycle lanes, which makes them pointless."

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Other readers like Yolande Workman and Julie Page said it is too dangerous to cycle to work in the city, so they would avoid it and not recommend it to others. 

Vivienne Granger added: "There’s no way I’d be cycling in this city.

"Sharing bike lanes with buses, the lack of cycle paths, people in cars that think it’s a sport to spook the cyclists… no thanks."

Cllr Rouse said an active travel stakeholder group had been formed to help deliver future infrastructure plans, and already work has been done to canal towpaths and on new active travel routes in Ronkswood.

Cllr Rouse added: "Worcester is an ancient city, and that means it comes with challenges around what we can do with limited space. 

"People are getting fed up with cyclists being pitted against motorists.

"The fact is we all have to travel using a variety of modes, and our job as a council is to ensure that no matter how you choose to move, we provide you with the right infrastructure to help you get on your way."