A cyclist has accused the owners of Dundee harbour of neglecting their ”civil duties” after claiming that they are failing to keep a cycle route open in adverse weather.
Kevin Smith, a lecturer at Abertay University, believes Forth Ports should do more to keep the designated path open or allow cyclists to use a road that the company prohibits them from using.
Dr Smith tries to use the three-metre-wide path between the level crossing on Camperdown Street and Lower Broughty Ferry Road daily. However, he says the route through the harbour area is regularly closed for what he feels are unsubstantiated or preventable reasons.
He says cyclists are instead forced to cycle along Dock Street or break the law by cycling on the adjoining pavement.
Forth Ports has said closures only take place in the interest of safety, but Dr Smith believes more should be done to keep the path open.
He said: ”They’re not taking their civil duties responsibly and they often close it off for what seem to be trivial reasons. The problem is it forces cyclists to use the dual carriageway.”
He added: ”They can either do that or break the law and use the pavement or muddy path to the side.”
Dr Smith was instrumental in having the harbour opened up to cyclists after Forth Ports had previously banned riders from travelling through the docks, citing health and safety fears.
Cyclists can now obtain a port-approved pass to allow them to use the path, however stretches of road remain off-limits.
When the path is closed to cyclists, Dr Smith wants to see permission granted to use access roads in the harbour instead. He insists the alternative cycling along Dock Street is too dangerous.
Dr Smith said: ”I think that all cyclists expect the path to be closed at times. But it puts a lot of people off as they think ‘should I cycle today or not?”’
Forth Ports has defended its decision to prohibit cyclists from using the harbour road network.
The £500,000 cycle path was created in 2004 because of concerns over safety, and the operator insists that roads in the area are too dangerous for those on two wheels.
A port spokesman said: ”The cycle route through the port is closed from time to time on the grounds of safety. We will continue to make every effort to keep the cycle route through the port open, and close it only on safety grounds.”