"Cars are much more of a problem on New Forest roads than cycles." This was the message from Lib-Dem Cllr for Totton South and Marchwood, David Harrison, as the New Forest National Park Authority (NFNPA) proposed a cap on rider numbers in local sportives. 

On his Facebook page, Cllr Harrison writes: "Can you imagine what a fuss would be kicked up if the New Forest National Park Authority proposed a cap on the number of cars allowed to enter the New Forest area?" As road.cc reports, a limit of 1,000 riders in popular events such as the Wiggle New Forest Spring Sportive and New Forest 100 has been proposed as part of a cycling events charter laid out by the authority's Cycling Liaison Group. 

Despite attempts from local MP, Dr Julian Lewis to instigate a change in the law in order to limit sportives, Harrison says that lobbying is "quite rightly falling on deaf ears as far as the coalition government are concerned. By any reasonable assessment, cars are much more of a problem on New Forest roads than cycles, whether you are talking about pollution, animal deaths and injuries, or congestion. It is therefore no surprise to me that cycling groups are resisting pressure to sign a revised cycling charter that includes a cap on the numbers of cyclists taking part in organised events." 

Harrison says those who take issue with cycling events in the area, and proposed 'Rural Boris Bike' scheme are yet to prove that cycling in the New Forest is actually a problem. He writes: "When cyclists have asked for evidence that large numbers of cyclists cause problems over and above say, car usage, the authorities can't deliver."

He continued: "This chimes very much with what some members of the National Park Authority claimed when abandoning the rural bike hire scheme. They claimed there was strong evidence of local 'anti-cycling sentiment'. In fact, even the NPA surveys showed the reverse was true. Most local people wanted the bike hire scheme to be implemented. Instead, a large chunk of money will now go back to central government." 

Nevertheless, Harrison seems unconvinced that the charter will be implemented: "Recent sportive events have been enjoyed by hundreds of people. Local businesses are fans of cyclists, not least because they spend more locally than other visitors do. It's in the interests of the organisers to abide by the charter, as drafted. I don't think they should agree to a cap on numbers. They have already shown that events can take place and be enjoyed without conflict, without restrictions being artificially imposed by authorities without due cause to do so." 

Keep fighting the good fight, Cllr Harrison.