We urge Mid Sussex County Council and/or West Sussex County Council to build a safe, off-road cycle route for people to travel by bicycle between the towns of Haywards Heath and Burgess Hill.

Currently there are three main routes to get from Burgess Hill to Haywards Heath. They follow winding, rural A-roads which have no pavement, no street lights, are also used by buses and always have a high number of cars and vans on them. This also involves crossing a number of heavily used roundabouts.

I realise that cyclists do slow the pace of motor vehicle traffic and am all too aware of the impatience this causes drivers. 

Having an off-road cycle route would be hugely beneficial to all who travel between the two towns, whatever their mode of transport.

Cyclists of all ages will have a safe route to travel.
Motorists, tradespeople and buses will have a freer road. Then there is the environmental impact of having less vehicles on the road.

The benefits are far reaching. Every bicycle journey is potentially one less car journey, which is less stress on the roads and we all know how bad the pot holes are in the area!

I cycle to work 5 days a week, to and from Burgess Hill and Haywards Heath. Every day, I feel like I am putting my life in the hands of the motorists, hoping they overtake me safely. With new schools and homes being built, our local population is growing and we need travel routes that can cope, keep us and our children safe, as well as having a positive environmental impact and keeping people fit and healthy.

Edit = After two years, I am stopping cycling to work. After repeated road rage and feeling like being on a bike is just too risky, until there is a safe route to travel, I will not be cycling to work.

If you are a cyclist, motorist, taxi driver, tradesperson, bus driver or have a bus pass, please consider signing this petition. Let's pave the way, literally and for the future of our 2 great towns.

Update = featured on BBC Politics South East. 
Thanks so much to everyone who has signed, please keep sharing and thanks again for the support. Together we can keep travel safe, environmentally friendly and accessible for all.