Cyclist asks to meet in middle over bike barrier

A TRICYCLE rider has called on council bosses to let him through new barriers meant to keep off-road bikes out of a popular walkway.

- By GARETH LIGHTFOOT Local democracy reporter

David Ellis, 74, who has arthritis and diabetes, rides a tricycle because of balance problems and cannot easily get through barriers installed on the Castle Eden Walkway to deter quad and motorbikes.

A number of the metal barriers near Oxbridge Lane are too narrow for his Jorvik MT tricycle to pass.

The retired Royal Marine, paramedic and first aid trainer, of Nursery Lane, Oxbridge, Stockton, said he explained his position to Stockton Council before the barriers were installed: "I explained what my problem was and my understanding was they were going to take my needs into account.

"When they put them in, I couldn't get through them," he said, counting about four barriers between Oxbridge Lane and Hardwick which he cannot get through easily.

"What they're expecting me to do is turn the handlebars 90 degrees, lean sideways through the barriers, pick up nearly 17kg and drag it through, which is obviously not acceptable. I can't do it now because I was getting a bad back from lifting the thing.