Yes you can cycle in Kingston Market Place !

We know the signs say Pedestrian Zone and many cyclists think that means they have to dismount and walk their bikes through the Ancient market place in Kingston. In fact by virtue of a traffic management order made earlier this year you can now cycle anywhere around the market place. The current signage is confusing. At the three entrances to the Market Place there are, diagram 619 “Motor vehicles prohibited” signs indicating that motor vehicle access is restricted. There are also signs proclaiming ‘Pedestrian zone’. Cyclists and pedestrians, versed in Road Traffic law, will realise cycling is permitted; the majority of ordinary people do not understand these signs (some pedestrians will think, mistakenly, that cycling is banned) and confusion and conflict will ensue. One of our members has been wrongly shouted at for cycling and we have seen other cyclists dismounting and walking evidently unaware they are permitted to cycle.
We have now (13 October 2014) been advised by the Council Officer responsible that Blue background shared use signs (diagram 956 – a cycle and a walker) will be placed on the boards along with the existing signs to clarify matters by the end of this month. Eagle eyed people will have noticed that when the Market place was repaved earlier this year several small spaces were left unpaved along the old cycle route on the west side. It was always intended that granite blocks with a cycle logo, indicating shared use, would be installed in these gaps. We are now assured that these blocks are on order (in fact on a slow boat from China !). They should be installed early in December, we are told. So we are watching this space but are hopeful it will be made clear by the end of 2014 that you can cycle in the revamped market place.
Once that is done we shall still have to control encroachment onto the cycle route by the market traders, their gazebos and A boards, which are quite hazardous and obstructive when the area is busy…..