Letter: Lack of secure facilities in New Forest deters many cyclists

Cycling is very popular in the New Forest area including towns like Lymington. Surprisingly, there are few facilities for parking bikes securely in the town, nor outside any of the shops, pubs or restaurants in the area.

The lack of secure parking discourages many people from using their bikes (particularly expensive electric bikes) for shopping etc.

The exception is the Red Lion in Boldre which obviously welcomes cyclists by providing a cycle rack that would easily take over 10 bikes – yet it takes up only one car parking space.

Could the council and local businesses please have some similar cycle racks installed in the High Street and outside some of the shops and other pubs? The few car parking spaces would not be missed.

K Flynn

Lymington