This, of course, only shows the lower park. The situation in the upper park is even worse for the vulnerable. But this video covers the part of the park most people are familiar with.

The cycling groups and HBC still promote this route as a safe, pedestrian only, bike free alternative to  the shared cycle path. 

Utter nonsense, not only is the route with the most hills (and the steepest) it also has uncomfortable winding, undulating sections for wheelchairs and a public toilet which has the shared path running IN FRONT of it. 

So a blind person who completely wants to avoid bicycles and to walk from one end of the park to the other, which they have always been able to do so safely now has to

1. Descend 2 long flights of steps
2. Climb a steep hill
3. Descend a steep hill
4. Cross the shared cycle path
5. Endure a winding , undulating section
6. Cross the cycle lane yet again (which is in front of the loo (so if they want the loo it's got to be crossed twice here
7. Climb a long steep hill out of this part of the park

It is such a blatantly discriminating route it is hard to believe this has been considered acceptable by our council for 7 years. How would they like to be disabled or in a wheelchair and have this thrown at them as an acceptable alternative?

This is why this petition needs to succeed. We owe it to the elderly, disabled , vulnerable, dog walkers and every other park lover to get them back our safe, beautiful, pedestrian only (including mobility aids of course) park.