Issues

This section lists issues - problems on the street network and related matters.

Issues always relate to some geographical location, whether very local or perhaps city-wide.

You can create a new issue using the button on the right.

Listed issues, most recent first:

  • Chicane installed by Astra Zeneca developers on guided bus track

    Created by James Gilbert // 1 thread

    The Astra Zeneca developers (I assume) have installed a chicane made from two plastic roadwork blocks, plus a little "Chicane Ahead" warning sign on the down slope of the guided busway path as it approaches Francis Crick Avenue.

    I assume that the idea is to slow down cyclists, but I don't see why this is any more necessary than it was before their building site was created. I think it will make collisions between cyclists, or between cyclists and pedestrians, more likely.

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  • consultation on Vicarage Road one-way scheme

    Created by Clive // 1 thread

    Herts County Council proposal to make currently two-way Vicarage Road a one-way street between j/w Scammell Way and Hagden Lane and provide a ''kiss and drop'' lay-by in Scammell Way. The one-way section will be for northbound traffic only (ie travelling towards the town centre).
    For further details see:
    http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/11422333.Plans_to_make_part_of_Vicarage_Road_one_way_and_bring_in_parking_scheme_branded__ill_conceived__and_a_safety_risk/

    Herts County Council will have a display at Watford Cycle Hub

    ====date and time to be confirmed====
    Place: Watford Cycle Hub
    The Pavilion
    Chaffinch Lane
    Watford
    WD18 9QD
    Map: http://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=51.6428&mlon=-0.4165#map=14/51.6428/-0.4165&layers=C

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  • Liverpool Road, Irlam

    Created by David Butler // 1 thread

    Salford Council/Urban Vision consultation on CCAG scheme. "The proposed cycle improvement between Station Road in Irlam and Astley Road in Cadishead will enable better sharing of the road space by all users and improve conditions for cyclists and pedestrians. Cycle parking facilities will be provided and cycle symbols on the road will be marked to highlight the presence of cyclists. Line markings and the construction of build outs and central reserves are proposed to narrow the road and reduce the overall speed of vehicles"

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  • Liverpool Street, Pendleton

    Created by David Butler // 1 thread

    Salford Council/Urban Vision consultation on this CCAG scheme. "A new cycle lane will be implemented along Liverpool Street between Langworthy Road and Cross Lane, linking the neighbouring residential areas to employment and educational opportunities at Salford Quays, MediaCityUK, the University of Salford and Manchester City Centre"

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  • Silk Street & North George Street, Salford

    Created by David Butler // 1 thread

    Salford Council/Urban Vision consultation on CCAG funded scheme. "This route will provide new cycling facilities on Silk Street and North George Street, linking route one to the University of Salford and improving onward cycling links to Salford Quays and the regional centre, through the existing wider cycle network."

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  • Great Clowes Street & Blackfriars Road, Salford

    Created by David Butler // 1 thread

    Consultation by Salford Council/Urban Vision on CCAG funded scheme. "This will provide a new cycle lane along the length of Great Clowes Street and Blackfriars Road, which will link the residential area of Broughton to Manchester city centre. Where possible the route will be segregated from traffic"

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  • Bridgefield scheme, Stockport centre

    Created by David Butler // 1 thread

    New cinema and car park next to Debenhams in Stockport centre. New open space on Bridgefield Street and Prince's Street. One of the objectives is "to provide enhanced public transport routes,cycle facilities and pedestrian access". Issues: cycle parking, shared space, link to wider cycle network.

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  • Camden 'Quick Wins' - Phase 2

    Created by George Coulouris // 1 thread

    You probably remember that we began a new 'Quick Wins' campaign in November 2013.
    http://camdencyclists.org.uk/camden/campaigns/quick-wins

    I asked members for their suggestions for (very) minor improvements throughout the borough that will make cyclists feel better catered for. These are examples of the type of changes that Camden felt could be implemented without consultation of local residents/businesses:

    ⁃ dropped kerbs
    ⁃ obstructive barriers (i.e. anti-motor cycle barriers)
    ⁃ stretches of poor road surface
    ⁃ Feeders into ASLs that are too short or non-mandatory

    The response from members was very good and we were able to assemble a list of suggestions and submit it to Camden in November 2013. Camden responded by assigning an officer to work on the entire list and he has worked hard to progress them.

    The web page linked above includes a table showing the list of 17 suggestions that were submitted to Camden, updated to show the five suggestions that we know for sure to have been completed (those table entries are in italic with completion date and a photo). There may be one or two other items in the list that have been completed - I haven't been to check all of them recently ;-) I would be very grateful to anyone who can give me up-to-date information on the status of the other items.

    Several other minor changes that we have suggested, outside the 'Quick Wins' list have also been completed this year.

    As far as I know Camden still intend to progress most of the remaining items. It is worth noting that some of these relatively minor changes received significant 'push-back' from locals, making the process slower and more expensive than it might have been.

    We and Camden are still very positive about this campaign. Camden are now asking us for a set of 'Phase 2' suggestions. The criteria for this are likely to include the types of changes suggested in the first phase but also include some new ones.

    We are still clarifying with Camden the new categories that can be classified as 'quick wins' (i.e. can be implemented without consultation). They may include:

    ⁃ widening cycle lanes or converting them to mandatory (i.e. replacing a dashed with a solid white line). In some cases this might be a first step towards installing lightweight segregation.
    ⁃ widening existing cycle lanes where there is limited traffic impact.
    ⁃ widening bus lanes to 4.5m to allow safer overtaking of buses by cycles and vice-versa.
    ⁃ adding cycle lanes that link up sections of bus lane.
    ⁃ trial lane closures to provide better space for cycling.
    ⁃ more 2-way cycling on side roads.

    I would be grateful for your feedback, commenting on the categories of changes or preliminary suggestions for actual changes.

    I plan to construct a new list for submission to Camden in October, but I would be grateful for concrete suggestions by mid-September.

    It helps if you can provide a link to the relevant location on Google maps. A photo is even more helpful.

    George C.

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  • Poorly-designed cycleway at junction

    Created by MJR // 1 thread

    Between the A10 cycleway and the Hardwick Road cycleway is a complex of sluggish crossings, narrow tracks and dangerous junctions which currently (early 2014) take 7 minutes if you wait for all the crossings. Of course, the red bike lights are only advisory, but then riders and drivers are hindered by the poor visibility at many of the crossings, plus some drivers mistakenly believe that riders should dismount and walk across, to the point of harassing riders who ride across.

    Unsurprisingly, some commuters riding through this junction have developed a number of innovative and, eh, "interesting" approaches to it. This shouldn't be necessary. This junction between the Highways Agency's A47 and Norfolk County Council's A10 and A149 should be cycle-proofed as a high priority, before the planned housing at West Winch and North Runcton.

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  • Long Ashton Neighbourhood Plan

    Created by MJR // 2 threads

    The Parish Council have prepared the plan with the help of local residents, businesses and interest groups. A draft was prepared in February 2014 for consultation locally and with statutory bodies. When fully approved, it will take the place of many North Somerset Council planning policies which cover Long Ashton Parish. It will contain policies to:-

    · protect areas of Local Green Space from development

    · protect the open countryside between Long Ashton and Bristol

    · protect and improve recreation and community facilities

    · support the shops, services and businesses within the village

    · reduce traffic speeds through the village and make it a more pedestrian friendly environment.

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  • BikeBus Explorer - Sunday+BankHoliday service - Any user comments?

    Created by Rohan Wilson // 1 thread

    Bike Bus Explorer tows a 30-bike(?) trailer. Picks/drops bikes at Cambridge Station, Brooklands Avenue, Barton Rd then a linear route to Wimpole, and a ring from Arrington via Hatley, Gamlingay, Gransdens, Longstowe.

    It leaves the station Sunday and Bank Holidays at 09:00, 11:30, 14:30, 17:00. Last return to Cambridge arrives 19:12.

    A leaflet gives info about the rural destinations including Wildlife Trust sites, and a map showing the bus route, stops and suggested rural cycle rides. Operations exclude Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day, suggesting it operates all year.

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  • Maids Causeway toucan crossing cycle detectors not working

    Created by Stefan Kaye // 1 thread

    For several weeks now, ever since part of the surface of the path was repaired, the cycle detector loops at the crossing of Maids Causeway from Midusummer Common to Fair Street have not been working. This means that cyclists using the crossing have stop and press the button unless the road is already completely clear. Does anyone know any more about this problem, and to whom should a complaint be addressed?

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  • "Car-free" 15 flats behind Aldi, Histon Road 14/1254/FUL

    Created by Rohan Wilson // 0 threads

    3-floors block 15 flats hidden rear of industrial building behind Aldi.

    Nominally car-free (ie provides no on-site car parking beyond one space for disabled) but the flimsy Transport Assessment (Conclusions 5.5) says "....surveys on existing on-street parking on local routes have identified some capacity for additional parking demand generated by the development, should residents at the development choose to own a vehicle." This acts against the (so far undelivered) scheme to eliminate car parking on Histon Road and instal cycle lanes. There is space in front of the industrial shed, and "parking" appears there on the site plan.

    This seems to be a re-application, developer suggests the only issue left to be resolved is (personal) security on the remote access route. However the police ALO doesn't like it.

    Car-free: interesting, but this instance looks very dodgy.
    The TA instances other Cambridge "car-free" flat developments - do they really work?

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  • Consultation (by 26Sep'14) - to end max car parking standards?

    Created by Rohan Wilson // 1 thread

    https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/339528/Technical_consultation_on_planning.pdf

    Quote: para 2.77 "The Government supports the motorist and wants to see adequate parking provision for them...."

    Question 2.16: Do you agree that parking policy should be strengthened to tackle on-street parking problems by restricting powers to set maximum parking standards?

    Not a simple issue, but probably worth CCyC's commenting.

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  • Woolpack Junction at Tennyson Avenue / Gaywood Road

    Created by MJR // 1 thread

    This junction is very important for desire lines to/from the College of West Anglia, but is largely bypassed by through cycle traffic (by some mix of NCN1, the cycle gate into King George V Avenue and routes through North End). It is very busy with motor traffic.

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  • Lammas Land

    Created by Monica Frisch // 2 threads

    There are various cycle routes across Lammas Land and along the southern edge. There are already the following Cyclescape threads:

    #126 cycle path on Lammas Land (proposal for a new cycle path on the southern side of Lammas Land)
    #329 Lammas Land car park route improvements (as far as I can tell this covers much the same issue as #126)
    #986 route obstructed at Lammas Land

    I am about to create a new thread for lighting on Lammas Land, as there's a trial and consultation underway

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  • Irlams O'th Height Roundabout

    Created by Grahame Cooper // 1 thread

    Irlams O'th Height roundabout has been the location of a number of collisions involving cyclists (including myself and my daughter last September).

    There was a consultation last year over proposals produced by Sustrans for the improvement of this, and I showed my comments (annotations on proposed plans) at a previous GMCC meeting. You can find this annotated document here: https://copy.com/tAIjQdMSxfcsq4fz (large PDF - need to download to see all pages).

    A leaflet on the intended imrovements can be found here: http://www.urbanvision.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Cycling-Leaflet.pdf

    I am disappointed with this for the following reasons:

    - Extensive use of shared footways in the scheme (Salford Council seems to be in love with these, but they are bad).

    - Southbound approach on A666 looks impractical & dangerous: a sharp left turn onto the shared footway right at the busy entrance to the roundabout!

    - Whilst carriageway widths have been reduced, kerb radii at the mouth of entrances and exits do not seem to have been reduced, so "drivers looking right whilst accelerating left" will still pose a danger for cyclists who do not want to use the shared footways.

    - Limited improvements to the subways (tile removal, lighting and resurfacing) will probably not result in an attractive facility for cyclists. Access to this from Bolton Road (northbound) looks awkward.

    - There is no undertaking mentioned to ensure that facilities will be maintained and swept.

    - I'm still not confident regarding the social safety of the off-road parts, especially in the dark winter months.

    Those are my immediate reactions. Could be more to add.

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  • Waterfront development

    Created by Kevin Ablitt // 2 threads

    According to the Evening Star a developer has purchased the wine rack.
    The proposal involves calling for a multi storey car park although the developer also acknowledges the very high traffic volumes on the Star Lane gyratory.
    To make it more appealing for people to access the Waterfront from the town centre he proposes an elevated pedestrian walkway.

    http://www.ipswichstar.co.uk/news/ipswich_new_owner_of_the_wine_rack_vows_to_complete_luxury_flats_development_and_expresses_hope_for_foot_bridge_to_link_the_waterfront_to_the_town_centre_1_3713316

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  • NCN route 11 and the Waterbeach Gap

    Created by Rohan Wilson // 1 thread

    I've visited Riverside to Waterbeach with William Rayner of county cycling team. He's revising signage here and providing it along the St Ives corridor, with the old NCN 51 being renamed Regional Route 24 (blue patch). We've decided finally to continue to sign NCN 11 from Riverside Bridge to Waterbeach Station, and he's looking at suitable (hopefully temporary) wording to advise to follow NCN 51 to Bottisham for destinations beyond Waterbeach, which will hopefully eliminate misrouting those from outside the area.

    Our inspection of existing signs showed that only one new signboard was provided on completion 5 years ago of Riverside Bridge. Signboards still send people via Green Dragon. Sustrans considers signage is an important part of any route project.

    The intention is to sign Milton Country Park as a destination, not as part of the route, removing route signs within the park, and probably retaining Coles Road as the signed route through the village, though it would be much preferable to have improvements past the shops and the village green, pubs etc.

    Retaining the route to Waterbeach as NCN will help keep the gap in people's awareness.

    I am planning to contact again the landowner of the missing link between Bottisham Lock and Fen Road, Lode with a suggestion for a low-level route, southeast side of the Bottisham Lode floodbank which is the route of the public footpath, where signs forbid cycling. It might be considered more visually acceptable. All parish councils are for the route, including the one of which he is a member.

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