'Zero Cycling Zone' Oxford: Environmentalists furious at new plan

The City Council is this morning expected to approve a proposal from a motoring lobby group who say their actions have been accelerated by the forthcoming Zero Emission Zone (ZEZ).

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‘On Your Bike’ claims it is targeting cyclists for their part in implementing the ZEZ, which they see as ‘devastating’ to drivers. 

READ AGAIN: Zero Emission Zone proposals: your questions answered

Group leader Joy Ryder claimed cyclists pose a greater ‘danger’ to Oxford residents than car fumes. 

She said: “Give us motorists a break and ditch the ZEZ. 

“The real enemy of children isn’t so called ‘toxic air’, it is crazy cyclists, particularly those who keep riding without lights - they are not very bright. I saw one the other day wearing no colourful clothing, so you couldn’t see them at all.

The ZCZ is planned to be far bigger than the ZEZ (pictured)

“She rode so close to me that I nearly had to drive out of the cycle lane. I wanted to punch her wheel.

“Thank god the council has tired of them grinding everyone’s gears - bring on the ZCZ.”

But a coalition of cycling organisations is pledging to join environmentalists in fighting the initiative — due to come into force in exactly a year’s time — which will see cyclists forced to dismount in a vast area of the city, stretching from The Rusty Bicycle in East Oxford to The Bicycle Shed in Summertown. 

'Don’t Drive Cyclists Out’ spokesperson Kiah Carr rode to the defence of the ZEZ, before labelling the ZCZ a ‘foolish’ idea, which made her ‘shocked and furious’.

READ AGAIN: ZEZ plans relaxed as 2020 driving ban dropped

She said: “On Your Bike are peddling myths about cyclists. We never encroach into drivers’ space, jump red lights or cycle more than one abreast - it is motorists who are the real basket cases.

“If the ZCZ is implemented, it will start a chain reaction of bikers against drivers - a never-ending cycle of road rage.

“It will be enough to drive the city mad.”

Oxford, which boasts of being a ‘cycling city’, has long been known for having numerous bicycles on its streets and being difficult to drive in.

Oxford is known as a 'cycling city'. Picture: Ed Nix

Next year the city is set to introduce a ZEZ — a potential world first aimed at reducing air pollution — which would eventually see all cars bar those with zero emissions banned from a city centre zone. That looks set to be joined by the ZCZ, which advocates say will aid pedestrians by parking virtually all other forms of transport. 

Council spokesman April Loof explained: “On Your Bike brought forward a well thought through proposal to make the streets safer for pedestrians, which is why our officers have directed councillors to vote for it.

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"We are not entirely sure how the zone would work in practice yet, but we have carried out a poll of city residents and a majority of 52 per cent say they support the ZCZ in principle.

“I trust that will settle the matter for good.”

**This was an April Fool...